The Book of Shadows is a multimedia (non)reality experience; an adventure in a land of dangers, mysteries and untold truths, where alchemy, magic and science are intertwined in secret ciphers and cunning plots, all on a background of ancient struggles between occult powers. The project recreates a visionary parallel world revolving around a mysterious manuscript and a deck of Tarot cards, obscure works of a fictional Alchemist.

The Book of Shadows is:

The Alchemist's manuscript: ink works on a aged paper (I devise a new technique using natural pigments, oil and acrylic colors). Coptic binding. 18,50 x 26 cm, 64 pages.

to every page is associated a short story I present as the original decoding of the book.

Art, concept, writing, binding by me. 

The representation of the cosmos, with planets and stars carried around by mythical astral animals.

Devices and inventions. The manuscript (The Book of Shadows) is divided into the following chapters:

I. Astralia -Observation of the cosmos

II. Magnus Opus -Alchemy section

IV. Theatrum Historiae -Historical section about a lost civilization

V. De Divinatione -Tarot cards and their use

A detail of the first page of Machinarium section

Cities are watered like flowers...

The Tower of wisdom with its complex symbology: note the Tetraktys (a triangular figure consisting of ten points arranged in four rows: one, two, three, and four points in each row, which is the geometrical representation of the fourth triangular number)

Dance is sacred.

History of Sapientia, the lost city. Some scholars suggest it is a not the name for Atlantis

Stars and tarot: the alchemist devised new spreads in the shape of constellations

Alchemical papers with code and cyphers.

Details of the Alchemist's code.

Strange math or obscure writing?

The flying vessel project

The original tarot: ink works on aged paper. 280x155 cm

The Story of the Aces. The 4 Aces compose a unique painting with its mysterious meaning... another peace of the puzzle.

The King of Wands 

Details of the Ace of Cups. the Cup-City of life.

Detail of The Tower

The Tower.

The Fool

The Hermit

The Devil

Details of The Empress

The tarot cards...as they were discovered.

The Queen of Cups. A little reference to a B&W film I love: The Bride of Frankenstein... reference to film, letterature and art are scattered everywhere in the project.

Another view of the tarot... Thanks to The Royal Museum of The History of Science for the pictures.