Using drawing, painting and randomized silkscreen printing techniques, I capture the transient beauty of decay—whether in the form of wilting flowers or the disintegration of particles following high-energy collisions at the LHC.

These chaotic processes, often seen as destructive, also speak to transformation and renewal, themes that are central to both particle physics and ancient Hindu cosmology. The LHC's high-energy collisions, which break particles apart to reveal the fundamental forces of nature, serve as a powerful metaphor in my art. I abstract these interactions, using lines, curves, and colors to represent the energy, movement, and potential hidden within the chaos. This is paralleled by the cyclical nature of Hindu cosmology, where creation and destruction are intertwined, reflecting a universe in constant flux. Laniakea, the vast supercluster of galaxies, adds another dimension to my work.

This concept of interconnectedness on an incomprehensible scale resonates with my exploration of the micro and macro—particles at one end, and galaxies at the other. The grand structure of Laniakea symbolizes the order within chaos, where millions of galaxies are bound together by gravity, forming a colossal cosmic web. Through abstract interpretation, I aim to connect the viewer with the fundamental forces of nature, the beauty of decay, and the vastness of the universe. My work seeks to evoke a sense of wonder and contemplation, where science, art, and spirituality meet.

By bridging these realms, I offer new perspectives on the intricate dance of creation, destruction, and the interconnectedness of all things, from the smallest particles to the largest cosmic structures.

Latest and older artworks for sale direct from the artist and State of the Art Gallery.
I will be adding to this collection continually.

My artwork is a fusion of modern science and ancient wisdom, deeply influenced by the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), particle physics, and the rich traditions of ancient Indian cosmology. Through an abstract lens, I explore the profound and complex concepts that govern both the subatomic world and the vast cosmological narratives of creation, destruction, and rebirth. 

In my work, I delve into the abstract representation of particle interactions, where lines, curves, and forms symbolize the dynamic and chaotic movements of quarks, leptons, and bosons. The size and type of each particle, along with carefully chosen colors, serve as metaphors for their distinct properties—quarks might be rendered in bold primary colors, while leptons appear in softer pastels, and bosons in vibrant hues to express their fundamental roles as force carriers. This scientific inspiration is complemented by elements drawn from Indian cosmology, where the cyclical nature of the universe, represented by concepts such as the eternal dance of Shiva, resonates with the continuous creation and annihilation of particles. 

While the scientific origins of my work are rooted in particle physics, my approach is far from literal. I embrace the abstract nature of art to interpret the unseen and the unknown, using visual elements to evoke the mysterious beauty and complexity of the universe at its most fundamental level. Symmetry, geometry, and scale are recurring themes, reflecting the duality of chaos and order within both the subatomic world and the cosmic cycles described in Hindu texts. 

My work also grapples with the themes of quantum uncertainty, multidimensional reality, and the cosmic dance of creation and destruction, challenging the viewer's perception and inviting them to engage with the underlying narratives of discovery, exploration, and the unknown. 

Each piece is a journey into the heart of the invisible, where art, science, and ancient spirituality converge to offer new perspectives on the nature of existence. Through this abstract interpretation, I aim to bridge the gap between the scientific, the artistic, and the spiritual, creating a space where the complexities of particle physics and the timeless wisdom of Hindu cosmology can be felt, imagined, and appreciated in new and unexpected ways.

My work traces the hidden forces that connect particle physics, Hindu cosmology, and the natural world. The Large Hadron Collider and ancient spiritual teachings share a common language: chaos as a generative force.

Wilted flowers and decomposing vegetation are my starting points. Like subatomic particles colliding and decaying in the LHC, organic matter follows a cycle of breakdown and renewal. Hindu cosmology describes this same rhythm—creation and destruction as an eternal dance.

I translate these forces into paint through fragmented forms, dense textures, and saturated color. The disintegration of a petal becomes a visual metaphor for cosmic dissolution; the chaos of decay reveals the underlying patterns of transformation.

Decay is not an ending. It is the necessary phase before new growth. These works ask the viewer to find beauty in that turbulence—to recognize that whether in a wilting bloom or a particle collision, chaos is where renewal begins.

A collection of mainly silkscreen serial monotypes and monoprints printed over hand-painted backgrounds or screenprint combinations and digital imagery. Also including paintings and drawings on paper. These artworks are an exploration of chaos, decay, and transformation, drawing inspiration from the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), particle physics, ancient Hindu and Eastern cosmology, and the natural cycles of life and death. Central to this practice is the use of "randomized silkscreen printing", a technique that allows me to capture the unpredictable and ever-changing nature of these processes. In my work, I employ silkscreen printing in a way that embraces randomness and imperfection. 

The layers of ink, colors, and patterns are applied in a deliberately unpredictable manner, reflecting the chaotic interactions of particles within the LHC, the disintegration of flowers and vegetation, and the cyclical dance of creation and destruction in Hindu cosmology. This method mirrors the inherent unpredictability of decay and the beauty that arises from it. The randomization in my silkscreen printing is not merely a technique, but a philosophical approach that mirrors the underlying concepts of my art.

Just as particles decay and new forms emerge from chaos, each print is unique, hence the production, not of the traditional print editions, but monotypes and monoprints—an unpredictable outcome of overlapping patterns, colors, and textures. The decay of flowers and vegetation is echoed in the layering and erosion of prints, where each pass of the screen may add or subtract from the image, creating a dynamic and evolving composition. This approach allows me to explore the transient nature of life, where beauty and impermanence are intertwined. The randomness in my prints embodies the concept of decay as a process full of potential, where chaos leads to new forms and unexpected beauty.

It is a visual representation of the cyclical nature of existence, where every ending is also a beginning. Through this process, my artwork becomes a dialogue between control and chance, order and chaos. By embracing the unpredictable, I create a space where the viewer can engage with the fundamental processes of transformation that permeate the natural world, the cosmos, and our own lives. My silkscreen prints are not just images but moments of captured chaos, each one a reflection of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of reality.

A collaboration between Nicholas Hauser and James de Villiers. Artwork by Nicholas Hauser. Printing and presentation portfolio boxes by James de Villiers.

Our portfolio presentation boxes are handmade and although we have a limited reserve stock, depending on demand, it may take up to a week to fulfil your order.

The cost of a Hsien Visual Prayer Portfolio is ZAR 20,000.

This price does not include shipping costs, so please enquire as to the full cost before ordering.

Please supply your location details to where the portfolio must be delivered.

Payment may be made through EFT. Please enquire regarding type of payment.

Details of payment procedure will be forwarded upon receiving your order.

You may also email us directly at jamesdevilliers.jdv@gmail.com for your order or any queries.

Our Hsien Visual Prayers
for good governance,
conscience, meditation
and compassion.
Good governance of the self.
Good governance of your relationship to other people.
Good governance of your place in the pattern of existence, environment and energy.

There is a long history of human beings from all cultures petitioning images for an improvement in their futures and fortunes. We think perhaps of the great fetishes; Nkonde Nkisi, of the Golden Calf, Ganesha, the Crucifix, the Virgin.
Not forgetting “likes”, blue ticks and thumbs-up approvals of latter-day digital mediums.

Objects of sacrifice, devotion or appreciation
are not unfamiliar. Neither are our pre-determined
sequences of words, prayers, incantations and manifest verbal recitations.

If then, these spoken rituals embody an improved sense of security, comfort and well-being - and we believe we can utter or speak something better into existence; then why may we not likewise believe ourselves capable of looking, viewing, seeing, watching or gazing something into existence?

In short, could a design alone, perhaps function as
a potent prayer?
A picture prayer.

Thus, by simply looking at it briefly - or for an extended period of time - we might improve our optimism, our hope and our energy levels using the eye as the primary agent of acquisition and ultimately of transformation.

What this portfolio of original “Hsien” images simply seeks to do is say :

Includes skies, landscapes and still lifes.
These are older paintings from a previous stage in my painting career. I paint these  subjects occasionally as I still find the process relevant in the context of my current work