The Gaze as a Symbolic Language
In both tarot and contemporary surreal portraiture, the gaze carries meaning far beyond sight. Eyes serve as emotional instruments, symbolic thresholds, and portals into the inner world of the figure. In my artwork, the eyes are never strictly realistic; they are stylised, softened, widened, or intentionally distorted. This dreamlike quality aligns closely with the way tarot cards use the gaze to communicate intuition, vulnerability, truth, and shadow. The eyes become a symbolic language—one that speaks quietly but with unmistakable depth.
Portal-Eyes and the Intuitive Dimension
Many tarot archetypes communicate their meaning through the intensity or stillness of the gaze. Cards like The High Priestess, The Star, The Moon, and Judgement use the eyes to signal awakening or hidden layers of perception. My portraits draw from this same visual logic. The portal-like eyes, slightly oversized and glowing with subtle light, do not observe the viewer; they seem to absorb emotion. Their stillness creates a moment of intuitive contact, as if the figure is aware of something not fully visible. These eyes function as entry points into the emotional atmosphere rather than as literal physical features.
The Moon and the Power of the Uncertain Gaze
In tarot, The Moon represents subconscious movement and ambiguous emotional terrain. Its gaze is often indirect, reflective, or dreamlike. This is mirrored in my surreal portraits where the eyes hold a soft tension—calm yet uncertain, open yet slightly distant. The elongated shape or mirrored arrangement of the eyes adds to this sensation of shifting perception. The viewer is drawn into an experience similar to The Moon’s energy, sensing hints of something unspoken beneath the surface.
The Lovers and the Reflective Gaze
The Lovers card expresses duality not only through figures but through the emotional resonance between them. In my mirrored or double-faced portraits, the eyes often reflect each other in subtle ways, creating a quiet conversation between two internal selves. The gaze becomes a bridge between dual aspects of identity, much like the reflections and choices symbolised by this card. Through symmetry or gentle distortion, the eyes evoke the emotional truth of inner dialogue.
Judgement and the Awakening of Sight
Judgement is associated with clarity, revelation, and the emergence of a higher perspective. My portraits often use luminous eyes to signal this sense of inner awakening. A glow near the iris, a delicate highlight on the lid, or a soft radiance around the face gives the impression of consciousness rising to the surface. These eyes suggest that something is shifting internally, echoing the call to awareness that defines Judgement.
The High Priestess and the Hidden Gaze
The High Priestess embodies intuition, secrets, and the unseen realm. In tarot, her gaze is calm and opaque, revealing little yet holding immense depth. In my artwork, similarly quiet eyes carry her emotional signature. They feel protective, closed to interpretation, and anchored in inner worlds rather than outward expression. Their softness suggests knowledge that cannot be spoken directly. This kind of gaze invites contemplation rather than description, making the portrait feel like a sacred interior space.
Botanical Atmospheres That Frame the Eyes
In my surreal style, the eyes rarely exist alone. Botanicals, glowing seeds, tendrils, or spirals often frame the gaze like emotional weather. These elements underscore the symbolic power of the eyes, giving them an ecosystem to live within. A luminous petal beside the eye adds vulnerability. A mirrored botanical form strengthens the sense of duality. A dark leaf introduces mystery or tension. Tarot works in a similar way—surrounding its gazes with symbols that build atmosphere and deepen emotional meaning.
Why Symbolic Eyes Resonante With Viewers
Symbolic eyes hold power because they feel alive without being literal. The viewer recognises them instinctively as emotional cues rather than anatomical details. In surreal portraiture, these eyes open a portal into the inner world of the figure while reflecting something within the viewer at the same time. This dual exchange mirrors the experience of reading tarot cards: a moment of recognition, intuition, and personal meaning. Through their stillness, glow, and quiet intensity, the eyes become a space where external reality meets internal truth.
