Scorpio

In Scorpio, Kopel Gurwin interprets the zodiac sign of the Scorpion through a striking arrangement of color, form, and ornament. At the center of the composition, a stylized scorpion extends its claws while its segmented tail curves upward, culminating in a sharply pointed stinger. The creature’s distinctive silhouette, isolated against a deep black ground, conveys a sense of alertness and contained energy.

The scorpion is rendered in saturated shades of crimson, magenta, and rose, with contrasting touches of turquoise defining its eyes. Its rounded body and articulated limbs are constructed from carefully shaped sections of felt, giving the familiar creature an unexpectedly playful character. The balance between curved forms and angular extremities establishes a visual rhythm that extends throughout the composition.

Surrounding the central figure is an elaborate ornamental frame in deep red, burgundy, and violet. Stylized foliate patterns unfold symmetrically around its edges, while a continuous procession of blue and purple circular motifs marks the outer perimeter. The precisely cut and layered felt shapes, together with the visible stitching along their contours, emphasize the work’s tactile construction. Within the dark central field, the Hebrew inscription Mazal Akrav appears in distinctive blue and turquoise letterforms, arranged along the lower-right side of the composition and integrated into its overall balance.

Associated with the scorpion, the zodiac sign of Scorpio is traditionally represented through an image of a creature both formidable and immediately recognizable. Gurwin reimagines this emblem through a bold decorative vocabulary, bringing together the scorpion’s characteristic anatomy, vivid contrasts, and intricate ornamentation. The result is an interpretation in which symbolic identity and visual invention remain closely intertwined.