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Louis Buhl & Co. is pleased to present a new edition with California-based artist Kelsey Brookes, titled Harmine. Heavily influenced by a background in biochemistry, Brookes’ creations are a meditative exploration of molecular mapping, filled with color and intricate line work. Combining the artistic and empirical sides of the mind, he creates unique works that find a rare place in the art world. 

For this edition, Brookes has chosen to investigate a harmine molecule. Harmine is a dominant component of ayahuasca, a South American decoction with a long history of hallucinogenic use. Says Brookes: “The use of ayahuasca among [indigenous peoples of South America] is thought to represent a return to the origin of all things; the user experiences God directly — the creator of the universe and life. This experience provides direct evidence for their religious beliefs because they have experienced everything that underlies them. To them, everyday life is unreal, and what ayahuasca brings is real.” 

The imagery within the print derives from Brookes’ recent series of work, through which he has cut up and sewn back together handmade Indian tapestries then stretched them over custom-shaped strainer bars to depict different sequences of molecular diagrams. Upon converting this textile-born pattern into a serigraph print, Brookes has embossed the paper in strategic locations, creating a dynamic depth within the design. In this print, the artist carefully and intentionally plots out the structure of the harmine molecule, each atom and point of convergence between the chemical bonds serving as a focal point from which the presented image radiates. Colorful and vibrant — as with much of Brookes’ work — Harmine presents a complex composition that melds molecular mapping with meditative optics.