Oil on canvas, 50 H x 70 W cm / 19.7 H x 27.6 W in
Created by Ofir Hirsh in 1995.
In 1994, long before I’ve realized I’m an artist, I went on my “after the army trip” to South America.
After 6 months of wild adventures in Brazil, Argentina, Chile & Peru, I arrived at Vilcabamba, a small village in south Ecuador and went out to the mountains, to swallow a ‘cactus drink’ called San Pedro – (Echinopsis pachanoi). While I expected to have some fun, maybe be drunk like and a bit stupid, it turned out to be an intensive awakening adventure. Other than “speaking with God” and “seeing the structure behind the universe”, the visions were so strong and alive, I felt they were calling me.
Decisive about documenting them, I went back to the hotel room, took a blue marker out of my mochila and immediately started to follow the lines. I drew a running bull on my chest, William Shakespeare’s face on the floor of the bathroom and other non related figures and symbols. I also sat down and wrote a long letter to my true love back home containing my manifest.
I woke up the next morning in blue painted sheets, determined to research the true meaning of all the visions I’ve just seen. After that day, although I was sober and in full control, I began seeing ‘things’ (faces, figures, animals, energy flows etc…) everywhere (walls, floors, clouds, trees, my body…) and I felt an incredible urge to draw them with whatever material and on whatever surface.
When I discovered oil colors and canvas, I stopped scribbling on walls.
Hi Ofir
I am sat at Guayaquil airport awaiting a flight to the Galapagos to go diving for a week. It turned my mind to the last time I was in Ecuador and in vilcabamba and the experience I had no like other when my girlfriend and I took the St John’s cactus. It was interesting reading your experience and that this was a catalyst to be an artist.
I must say I had done a lot of drugs in my younger years but nothing like St John’s and I’m sure it’s only indigenous to that area.
It was in 1992/93 around the same time you were there. It was like an out of body experience most of it spent having sex with my girlfriend at the time. Our bodies melted into one. I have never experienced anything like it since. I also remember the fields around vilcabamba being full of fireflies everywhere, never seen quite a sight like that since either.
Anyhow thought I would touch base as your story and your inspiration for art touched me. You have some nice pieces. Assume you sell them. Weirdly my old boss from over 30 years ago also party spreads his time between Dominican Republic and Antigua. He’s quite a devisive colourful chap named Derek Barrett. Who knows it’s a small world, you may know him.
Anyhow. My thoughts are with you and your Israeli brothers and sisters as weep as all the innocent people who are suffering through this terrible war.
Sebastian
Hi Sebastian,
Thank you so much for sharing your own San Pedro experience. I guess next time I should bring my girlfriend with me 🙂
Also, I appreciate your kind words and support in this challenging time.
I wish you a great vacation and diving adventures in the Galapagos. I never been there, hopefully one day.
If you happen to be in the DR, I’d be very glad to meet and show you around Las-Terrenas/ Samana Peninsula.
Best of luck,
Ofir