Medusa Rising
- Michel
- Oct 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 20
Myth, Cosmos, and Transformation in Contemporary Art
Who was Medusa really? Beyond the monster with snakes for hair who turned men to stone, lies a deeper story of transformation, female power, and cosmic rebirth. The Greek myth of Medusa has captivated artists and storytellers for millennia but what happens when we reimagine her not as cursed, but as rising?
My latest painting, “Medusa Rising” (oil on canvas, 100 × 70 cm), is part of my ongoing series Beyond, a body of work that explores themes of life, death, divinity, and the mysteries that extend past the visible world. This mythological approach echoes my earlier work with Greek myths, including Clytie and the Sunflower. I often wonder how do ancient myths, once told around fires and temples, still speak to us in today’s fragmented, digital age?
Medusa, one of the most enduring figures in Greek mythology, offers a striking answer. She is both familiar and misunderstood — remembered most often as a cursed monster rather than as a complex symbol of transformation, resilience, and power. In Medusa Rising, I offer a new vision of her story: not one bound by punishment, but one illuminated by emergence.
The Greek Myth of Medusa: From Beauty to Monster
In Greek mythology, the Medusa myth tells us she is the only mortal of the three Gorgon sisters. Unlike her immortal siblings, her life is marked by tragedy. According to Ovid’s Metamorphoses, Medusa was once a beautiful maiden whose hair was transformed into snakes after she was violated in Athena’s temple. From that moment on, her gaze turned men to stone — a fate that transformed her into a figure of fear.
For centuries, Medusa has been depicted as a warning, an embodiment of danger, chaos, and the monstrous feminine. The Medusa myth has been interpreted countless ways. In Renaissance art she was painted as a grotesque figure, her severed head displayed as a trophy of Perseus’s triumph. In modern interpretations, she has been reframed as a feminist icon, a symbol of female rage, survival, and resistance.
But despite this long history, one aspect rarely shifts: the snakes are always shown attached to her head, as though surgically imposed by divine punishment.
Medusa Rising: A Contemporary Reimagining
In my painting, I chose to break from this tradition.
Here, the snakes do not simply sit upon Medusa’s head. Instead, they emerge from a galaxy of stars — as if born from an inner cosmos, swirling with fire, light, and darkness.
This shift in imagery creates a new layer of meaning:
A cosmic birth, not just a curse. The snakes are not imposed by Athena’s wrath but manifested from within Medusa herself. They rise out of her like constellations forming in the night sky, suggesting that her transformation is also a creation.
Transformation rather than punishment. Where Ovid’s myth centers on tragedy, Medusa Rising envisions a rebirth. She is no longer merely a victim of divine cruelty but a figure becoming something beyond human, aligned with cosmic forces.
Metaphor of emergence. The snakes can be read as energies, thoughts, or archetypal forces taking form. They embody the mystery of becoming, of powers that reside deep within and manifest outwardly.
By placing her transformation within a galactic context, Medusa becomes not only a mythological character but a universal archetype — a symbol of the human capacity to evolve beyond suffering and into transcendence.
Symbolism in Medusa Rising: Cosmic Snakes and Transformation
The upward tilt of her face, eyes rolled back in rapture, suggests a moment of surrender — not to defeat, but to awakening. The palette of fiery oranges and celestial blues reinforces the duality of destruction and creation, passion and stillness. Cracks across the background recall ancient frescoes, as though this vision is both timeless and fragile, preserved yet breaking through.
The snakes themselves, painted in both vibrant and shadowed tones, oscillate between threat and vitality. Their mouths open, tongues flickering, but rather than menacing Medusa, they appear as extensions of her — expressions of energy radiating outward.
The Beyond Series: Mythology Meets Contemporary Art
Medusa Rising belongs to my series Beyond, which seeks to reimagine myths, archetypes, and the afterlife through a contemporary lens. Rather than treating mythology as fixed narrative, Beyond explores how these stories can shift when seen as metaphors for inner states of being, spiritual transformation, and the mysteries that linger beyond human comprehension.
Each work in the series carries this tension: between the ancient and the contemporary, the personal and the archetypal, the earthly and the cosmic.
Why Medusa Mythology Still Matters Today
In a world saturated with technology, speed, and fleeting images, Medusa symbolism continues to resonate because these ancient stories reach into something deeper. They give form to the timeless struggles and transformations we all face. Medusa, in particular, is a mirror: she embodies fear, pain, rage, beauty, and transcendence.
By reimagining her not only as cursed but as rising, we reclaim her story as one of empowerment and cosmic connection. For collectors and viewers, this makes Medusa Rising more than just a painting — it becomes a dialogue between past and present, myth and imagination, despair and renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Medusa
Who was Medusa in Greek mythology?
Medusa was the only mortal of the three Gorgon sisters in Greek mythology. Originally a beautiful maiden, she was transformed into a creature with snakes for hair whose gaze could turn people to stone.
What does Medusa symbolize?
Historically, Medusa symbolized danger and the monstrous feminine. In contemporary interpretations, she represents female rage, survival, transformation, and empowerment.
Why do artists paint Medusa?
Artists are drawn to Medusa because she embodies complex themes of beauty, power, victimhood, and transformation. Her myth offers rich symbolism that can be reinterpreted for contemporary audiences.
Is Medusa Rising available for purchase?
Yes, Medusa Rising is available as an original oil painting (100 x 70 cm) and as limited edition prints. Contact me for original availability or shop prints here.
Is Medusa Greek or Roman?
Medusa originates from Greek mythology, where she was one of the three Gorgon sisters. The most famous version of her story comes from the Roman poet Ovid's "Metamorphoses," which added the tragic backstory of her transformation.
Why are there snakes in Medusa's hair?
In the myth, Medusa's hair was transformed into snakes as punishment by the goddess Athena. However, in "Medusa Rising," the serpents emerge from a cosmic galaxy, reimagining this transformation not as a curse but as a birth—a manifestation of inner power and cosmic connection.
Medusa Rising: Available as Original Painting and Prints
Medusa Rising is not a literal retelling of Ovid’s myth, but an invitation to see mythology as alive, adaptable, and deeply human. By allowing the snakes to emerge from a cosmic galaxy rather than simply cling to her head, I sought to show Medusa not as a monster, but as an archetype of becoming. A figure who transcends punishment and embodies transformation.
This is the essence of Beyond: to step past the boundaries of what is known, into the mysteries that lie just beyond.
Original works from the “Beyond” series are limited — secure your opportunity to add this cosmic reinterpretation of myth to your collection.
🎨 Original Oil Painting (100 x 70 cm / 39.4" x 27.6") priced at 3.500 Euros One-of-a-kind artwork from the Beyond series. Inquire here and make it yours!
🖼️ Limited Edition Prints Museum-quality giclée prints signed by me available here!
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