paper collage

21 3/8" x 27 7/8"

Winter 2008

© Joseph Christian


I have always been interested in medieval elements and it's a little surprising that I waited so long to make a sword and sorcery piece. I started with the helmet and decided that a Viking theme would be fun and a partial tribute to Minnesota football.

I had wanted to do a collage with ravens in it for some time and I had already fabricated a couple but couldn't find an appropriate context. Then I remembered my Norse mythology.

Odin, the Norse Allfather, is usually depicted as being accompanied by a pair of ravens called, "Huginn" and, "Muninn", meaning Thought and Memory. According to Viking myth they travel great distances and upon returning Odin knows all they have seen and heard.

For the background I decided that cool tones would be soothing to the viewer's eye after being drawn initially to the bright metal colors.

The snow and ice proved to be a natural setting for the ice palace entrance (I had been meaning to make a collage incorporating an ice palace for some time as well), and perhaps another reference to Minnesota and our winter carnival.


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The materials used in this work were derived from various magazines, perhaps including, but not exclusive to; National Geographic, National Geographic Travel, Architectural Digest, Outside, Smithsonian, In Style, Playboy, Transworld, Reader's Digest, Sailing, Sports Illustrated, Field & Stream, Marvel Comics, DC Comics, Skateboarder, American Rifleman, and American Hunter.


I have altered, rearranged, and used the fragments of photographs and advertisements published in these magazines in a way inconsistent with their original context so that my derivative works do not infringe on any copyright. However, on the off chance that anyone recognizes any photograph fragments I have used in my work let me know so i can credit it properly. Thanks.