Criação II” by Mónica Lima: A Cosmic Ode to Creation, Regeneration and the Eternal Journey of the Soul

Seia, Portugal | June 2025 - The mystical landscapes of mythology and metaphysics find new expression in “Criação II”, a compelling new work by Portuguese artist Mónica Lima, created specifically for the Brasileira do Chiado Painting Contest in 2024. The painting has earned its place among the selected 27 artworks showcased at the Museu do Pão (Bread Museum) in Seia, Portugal, standing out for both its visual richness and symbolic gravitas.

The exhibition, which features 38 participating artists with 27 shortlisted for public viewing, is open to visitors Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 AM to 6 PM, and will run until September 28th.

A Work of Mystical Depth and Cultural Synthesis

“Criação II” (translated as “Creation II”) is more than a painting—it is an alchemical tapestry of origin myths, sacred geometry, and esoteric symbolism. Executed in acrylic on canvas, and measuring an imposing 1.28 by 1.80 meters, the artwork draws deeply from Lima’s earlier collections: “Goddesses” and “The Unknown God.”

At the core of the composition lies the Cosmic Egg, an ancient and powerful archetype found in numerous mythologies—from the Celts to the Greeks, and the ancient Egyptians. It represents not only the source of creation, but also the transmutation of energy: the place where matter and spirit converge, where Light gives birth to form.

The Cosmic Egg rises from the primordial Ocean, rendered in dark violets and deep blues on the painting’s left side. These rich tones evoke the depths of the unknown—the fertile void—from which all existence springs. It is from this vast, formless realm that Light, Life, and the Sun are born.

The Phoenix: Fire, Rebirth, and the Sacred Journey

On the right half of the painting, Lima introduces the mythic Egyptian Phoenix—a bird eternally associated with rebirth, regeneration, and cosmic cycles. In Egyptian mythology, the Phoenix not only symbolizes the Sun’s daily journey and the Nile’s yearly floods, but also Osiris’s soul—reborn through fire, creating herself from herself.

The Phoenix in “Criação II” is accompanied by the Ankh, another potent Egyptian symbol, often depicted in the hands of gods and goddesses as a sign of immortality and divine life force. Here, the Ankh becomes a bridge—connecting the temporal and the eternal, the seen and the unseen.

The bird’s role extends beyond regeneration; it also becomes a psychopomp, guiding souls through the underworld—a sacred companion in the soul’s journey toward the afterlife.

A Myth Reimagined for the Contemporary Spirit

Mónica Lima’s “Criação II” is a contemporary myth crafted in color and form. Her brushwork is not just artistic—it is intentional, spiritual, and rooted in universal memory. With reverence for the past and an eye toward eternity, Lima invites viewers not merely to observe—but to reflect, remember, and realign.

By uniting symbols of birth, destruction, rebirth, and transcendence, the artist offers a visual meditation on the cyclical nature of existence. It’s a reminder that every ending carries within it the seed of a new beginning—that light always emerges from darkness, and that art remains one of humanity’s most powerful languages for decoding the mystery of life.

Artwork Details:
🖼 Title: Criação II (Creation II)
🎨 Technique: Acrylic on Canvas
📅 Year: 2024
📏 Size: 1.28 x 1.80 meters
🏛 Exhibited at: Museu do Pão, Seia, Portugal
📅 Exhibition Dates: Until September 28th | Tue–Sun | 10 AM – 6 PM