Paul Wirhun: Eggman

Paul Wirhun, also know as the Eggman, practices the age-old tradition of pysanky, the art of painting on eggs. Paul writes:

The ancient Slavic tribes in Ukraine believed that the fate of the world rested on the making of pysanky. Dazhboh— an evil god— was chained to a cliff; his servants sent annually to count the number of eggs created; when few were made his chains loosened & evil flowed, while love & goodwill abounded when many eggs were decorated....should this practice cease Dazhboh will be released & devour all.....we live in difficult times....we've got eggs to make!

I believe that eggs are events - not simply objects. They are the confluence of primal life forces, sexual energies, that create new life - new beginnings. The shells are memories of these events.

I have worked on eggshells since I was a child, learning the traditional Ukrainian art of pysanky from my mother. Pysanky are talismen created through batiking designs with specific intentions to use the egg's life-power for a desired result. This cultic use of eggs informs my work to this day - for I consider egg making a sacred magical art.

Since 1990 I have used this folk art to explore my fantasies, desires and cosmology. During this period I have manipulated traditional processes with innovative dyeing & brush techniques, etching, and mosaic to forge a new visual language to write on this versatile, organic sphere.