Fall in a Trance With These Abstract Artworks of Egyptian Monuments

Is it too much to call Egypt an everlasting source of inspiration, one that keeps creative minds brewing with revelations? We wouldn’t say so. While on a trip to Cairo and Luxor, Istanbul-based Ukrainian designer Katerina Bielobrova was captivated by Ancient Egyptian architecture. They reminded her of the work of Italian surrealist painter Giorgio de Chirico, who founded the metaphysical art movement, compelling her to create these bright and colourful abstract illustrations titled ‘The Scale.’

“I was observing the architecture of Hatshepsut and Karnak temples, and it felt surreal,” Bielobrova, a member of the Association of Illustrators, tells #SceneHome. “Their physical scale and perfection of shapes absorb the air and make you question if you’re still on earth.” She adapted the design elements of these iconic temples to Chirico’s art which constantly featured architecture - akin to taking a lucid trip into the dreams of late 19th and early 20th century artists.

Recalling the visuals of her 2021 trip, Bielobrova played with perspectives and altered the scales of things. One of Karnak Temple’s main attractions are its great columns, a forest of 134 giant sandstone columns over 20 metre in height with blossoming papyrus capitals. Bielobrova decided to make this iconic scenery even more enormous by viewing it upwards, and scaling down the sun.

While Bielobrova’s project was inspired by Chirico’s art, she isn’t alone. Chirico’s paintings helped inspire books, music and even video games. Through the times, Chirico’s work responded to art and architectural movements such as neo classical and neo-baroque styles, while always maintaining his metaphysical themes.

This metaphysical perspective played to Bielobrova’s strengths. Self-proclaimed graphic designer by day and illustrator by night, Bielobrova focuses her work on posthumanism and modern society. Speculating human consciousness and its future, she paired the painter’s style of incorporating architecture into art with her exploration of compositions, shapes and spaces with eye-popping colours to create these rescaled illustrations of Egypt’s monuments.