Colour as Ritual Spellwork
When I think about how Suspiria influences my visual world, I always begin with colour. The film’s intense chromatic language feels like spellcasting—every red pulse, every lunar blue, every shadowed corridor acting as an emotional incantation. In my artwork, colour carries that same ritual weight. Reds glow from within like embers, suggesting inner fire and transformation. Silvery shadows create liminal quiet, while pinks and violets feel like whispered enchantments. Instead of using colour as decoration, I treat it as emotional magic, guiding the viewer through intuitive response. The palette becomes a spell that unfolds slowly on the wall.
The Witch as Autonomous Presence
Suspiria often presents witches as hidden forces, powerful yet obscured. In my work, I shift that dynamic toward autonomy and inner agency. The feminine presence becomes visible, luminous, and self-contained. The gaze does not hide; it confronts gently, radiating internal knowledge rather than menace. This echoes a modern witch aesthetic rooted in self-possession, intuition, and emotional sovereignty. The figure is not a threat or victim; she becomes the locus of power, shaping the atmosphere around her through quiet intensity.
Ritual Composition and Symbolic Space
One of the elements that resonates with me in occult cinema is the sense of ritual space. Rooms feel arranged with intention, as if every object has meaning. I translate that into my compositions through symbolic placement—glowing seeds positioned like talismans, mirrored forms acting as protective sigils, botanical arcs forming thresholds. These structures create visual altars, inviting contemplation rather than fear. The artwork becomes a ritual environment, a place where emotional and symbolic language circulates freely.
Botanical Magic as Witchcraft Language
My botanicals play a central role in expressing witchcraft aesthetics. Night-blooming flowers, spirals, roots and thorned curves become metaphors for transformation, protection, and hidden knowledge. In many folk traditions, plants served as magical intermediaries between worlds, carrying healing, warning, or desire. When I let petals resemble teeth or vines curl like incantatory lines, the botanicals speak in that occult language. They become familiars rather than ornaments, part of the emotional and symbolic ecosystem that defines the modern witch aesthetic.
Texture as Haunted Atmosphere
Soft haze, grain, and atmospheric noise are essential to creating a sense of lingering presence. Texture makes the artwork feel as though it contains memory, like a ritual that has been performed repeatedly. This haunted softness mirrors the dreamlike disorientation of Suspiria, where boundaries blur and perception shifts. Texture becomes the veil between seen and unseen, inviting the viewer to look closer without revealing everything. That partial concealment generates emotional tension while maintaining safety and intimacy.
Movement and the Unseen
Suspiria plays constantly with the idea that forces move behind the surface. I echo that feeling by using botanical movement and subtle directional flow. Stems twist toward unseen sources, petals open as if responding to invisible currents, and glowing elements pulse quietly. This movement suggests that the artwork is alive with intention, carrying unseen narratives. The viewer senses presence without clarity, allowing imagination and intuition to guide interpretation.
Occult Symbolism Without Literal Illustration
Rather than depicting witches, rituals, or symbols directly, I prefer to communicate occult themes through emotional suggestion. A halo-like glow becomes a sign of inner power. A mirrored form hints at duality or hidden identities. A glowing seed functions like a ritual spark, holding potential energy. This symbolic approach allows viewers to connect through personal associations rather than prescribed meanings. The artwork becomes a space for private mythology.
Why This Aesthetic Resonates
I continue to explore the connection between Suspiria and the modern witch aesthetic because it feels emotionally truthful. Many people today seek imagery that embraces mystery without brutality, power without dominance, and transformation without spectacle. Surreal art shaped by occult cinematic language offers that balance. It invites viewers into a world of symbolic depth, intuitive magic, and atmospheric beauty. On the wall, these pieces become companions in personal ritual, holding space for introspection, empowerment, and quiet enchantment.
