Aries

In Aries, Kopel Gurwin interprets the zodiac sign of the Ram through a distinctive interplay of animal form and ornamental invention. At the center of the composition, a stylized ram rests against a deep black ground, its head raised and its prominent horn curling into a sweeping spiral. The compact posture contrasts with the lively arrangement of shapes across its body, lending the animal a presence that is both composed and expressive.

The ram’s head is rendered in saturated shades of crimson, magenta, and rose, while its body unfolds through overlapping forms in gray, turquoise, emerald green, cobalt blue, and violet. Rather than representing the animal’s fleece naturalistically, Gurwin constructs it from elongated, leaf-like shapes that create a flowing ornamental rhythm. The contrast between the warm tones of the head and the cooler colors of the body draws attention to the ram’s distinctive silhouette.

Surrounding the central figure is an elaborate frame of pale blue, cobalt, and violet foliate motifs, bordered by a continuous sequence of purple and magenta circles. The carefully cut and layered felt shapes are defined by visible stitching, which articulates the contours of the animal and the surrounding ornamentation. At the upper right, the Hebrew inscription Mazal Tale appears in bold crimson letterforms, integrated into the composition as an essential visual element rather than a separate caption.

Traditionally represented by the ram, Aries is associated with initiative, vitality, and determination. Gurwin approaches the familiar astrological emblem through a balance of recognizable anatomy and imaginative abstraction. The animal’s curled horn and poised body establish its symbolic identity, while the surrounding colors and decorative forms give the work an individual character within the artist’s zodiac series.