Spring of 1902: the Vienna Secession hosts an exhibition dedicated to Ludwig Van Beethoven, who is worshipped as a visionary hero among the newly formed utopian group of artists.
For this occasion, Gustav Klimt creates a monumental, 34-meters long cycle of paintings that stretches across three walls. It marks a turning point in the artist’s oeuvre and is later considered to be his most important project, as well as a milestone of Viennese Art Nouveau.
The Frieze, a visualization of mankind’s struggle for happiness, is an allegory of Beethoven’s groundbreaking Ninth Symphony.
Therion takes its inspiration of the “hostile forces” on the middle wall of the Beethoven Frieze. A dark, spicy warmth reveals the presence of the great beast. Typhon, or Typhoeus, once ruled the deepest realms of Hades. Klimt places him at the center of the hostile forces, in shades of black, brown and uncanny blue.
bergamot, black pepper, carrot seed, bay leaf, chamomile blue, violet, cade, sandalwood, amber, cypriol, musk
