
"In hoc signo vinces (You'll Win Under this Sign)" by Bettina Werner; NO.3 panels 80 x 24 inches each © Bettina Werner 1993;Painting created with textured colorized salt technique invented by Bettina Werner in the early 1980’s
A human being
is a unique being,
single and unrepeatable.
Work hard at fulfilling yourself.
With courage,
mark out in your life
irreversible red cross,
and keep going, erect,
along your marvelous path.
Learn to be alone
and keep yourself company.
Let your mind listen and absorb.
Let the most dazzling secret salt of the earth
penetrate you.
Demand intransigence, rigorous verticality.
Don’t be afraid of facing the unknown,
and with violent desire
say YES to life.
–Bettina Werner
A couple weeks ago, a friend of mine invited me to a cocktail party in this really great penthouse overlooking the East River. The view was magnificent, but what really caught my eye was the painting above and, particularly, the poem that accompanies it.
In hoc signo vinces in Latin means “in this [sign] you will conquer.” As the legend goes, while marching with his army Constantine looked up in the sky and saw a cross of light and the Greek words “by this, be victorious!”, (or In hoc signo vinces in Latin). That night, Constantine had a dream in which Christ told him that he should use the sign of the cross against his enemies, making it one of the earliest Christian symbols. Centuries later, acclaimed Italian artist Bettina Werner used the same symbol and phrase when creating the artwork above.
Both her painting and her poem inspire me, and I hope they provide inspiration for you too. For more information on Bettina Werner and her artwork click HERE.
“YES” indeed,
—TRAVERS