This painting is based on a well-known saying from Francis Bacon’s essay On Boldness. In it, Muhammad convinces people that he will call the mountain to come to him, and from its peak he will pray for the believers. Muhammad calls upon the mountain, but when it remains still, he is unfazed and says: “If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain.”
In the painting, Muhammad and the mountain are presented as separate, yet part of the same environment. Their colors blend into the background, as if they emerge from it. However, thanks to the magnetic surface and objects, the viewer may reposition them within the space of the artwork. In doing so, the viewer takes on a near-divine role, able to decide who moves where. This act becomes more than just a game: it is a reflection on agency and responsibility.
Throughout history, supernatural forces have been a source of fear, reverence, and belief. This work intentionally avoids glorifying the miracle as an end in itself. The moving elements are not tricks or manifestations of mystical power; they serve as an invitation to explore the deeper sources of faith, truth, and wisdom.
This piece is ultimately about the will to act. It raises the question: are we only interested in the miracle or in what it means? Are we drawn only to the spectacle, or also to the insight it offers?
85,3 x 44 x 3 cm
Acrylic, spray paint, amber, magnetic sheet, lacquer on hardboard
