Part of Parallels Sacrés series, No. 3,4

“Hemma of Gurk (German: Hemma von Gurk; circa 995 – June 27, 1045), also known as Ema Krška (Slovenian: Ema Krška), was a noblewoman and the founder of several churches and monasteries in the Duchy of Carinthia. She has been buried in Gurk Cathedral since 1174, was beatified on November 21, 1287, and canonized on January 5, 1938, by Pope Pius XI.
A key moment in her transformation was a tragic event linked to the loss of her husband and two sons, murdered on the same day, probably in 1036 by order of the deposed Count Adalbero of Carinthia.
A reported miracle is that upon the opening of her coffin shortly after her death, her right hand, which had generously distributed wealth, was found perfectly preserved.
The original work from around 1400 is attributed to the German painter Sebald Bopp, who worked near Bamberg. It is now housed in the Spanish museum Thyssen-Bornemisza. The painting, done in oil and tempera on a wooden panel, measures 44.7 x 28.7 cm and is also known as the "Portrait of a Lady with the Order of the Swan."
The present artwork employs both modern digital collage techniques and classic oil painting, measuring 80 x 100 cm. It is part of the Paralleles Sacres / Sacred Parallels series, a developing project that combines the collaboration of the author with the Knightly Order of Saint George from Carinthia. It involves incorporating graphic and oil paintings into sacred spaces that may be connected to celebrations of significant milestones and intertwines with the personal story of the author.
Thus, in the Parallels Sacres cycle, a juxtaposition of paintings and graphics is presented, in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Sveta with a Slovenian holiday combined with Domicijan’s painting, in the Cathedral of Saint Florin in Vaduz with the first variation of the graphics of Saint Krška, in the Basilica of Saint Denis in Paris with the second variation of graphics, and the painting was also exhibited in the Church of the Annunciation in Nazarje. Today, we have the opportunity to witness its blessing here, in the Commandery of Ema Krška.
Saint Ema is depicted with symbols of the rose, church, and gold. The Gurk church and the Admont Abbey, founded in 1074, also owe their existence to Ema’s wealth. These elements are all present in the painting. The background, in blue and turquoise hues, symbolizes the heavens and water. We also see abstract elements resembling fish, symbolizing Christianity, while rose petals partially take on bodily forms. Red textured strokes symbolize blood, murder, and transformation, while gold leaf scattered throughout the background represents wealth and generosity.
The element of water, the coffin, and generosity also connect to the impending plea of Bogomila to Crtomir, paying homage to the celebration of feminine spiritual energy, embodied by Ema Krška, Joan of Arc, and Bogomila, while we also express gratitude to our noblewoman, Lady Sonja Bercko Eisenreich for her great contribution to today’s opening.”
Norma De Saint Picman, read on the opening of Commandery of Sainte Ema Krška, by Knights of Saint George of Carinthia, on 14 th of September, in Nazarje, Slovenia