Sanctum in Pressure
| Sanctum in Pressure | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Surn-Hael |
| Type | Triptych (Tonal Relief) |
| Medium | Chiseled basalt |
| Location | Dul-Val, South Archive Hall |
| Cultural Origin | Duranthi |
Sanctum in Pressure is a monumental triptych carved directly into a living basalt wall in the South Hall of Dul-Val. Rendered in relief, the piece is regarded as one of the most significant visual expressions of collective memory in Sanctuary Vale. The work is both artistic and acoustic—its surfaces are shaped to respond faintly in response to ambient sounds.
Description
The triptych is composed of three continuous panels, each reflecting a pivotal moment in the memory of the vale. No figures are present; the work relies entirely on shape, lines, and the interplay of texture and stone.
- The first panel represents the arrival of the Orasians into the valley. It features spiraling descent forms, overlapping path impressions, and layered stone bands suggesting listening, movement, and anchoring.
- The second panel depicts the sealing of the Tarsuun Pass during the Great Erosion. It presents a central fracture locked by interlocking stone shapes and bounded by carved loops, symbolizing containment and boundary.
- The third panel conveys the silence after the Great Erosion. Here, waveforms gradually diminish into flat, untouched basalt, evoking a sense of stillness, grief, and quiet endurance.
Interpretation
The triptych is intended to be read from left to right. Each panel includes natural mineral veining left untouched to reinforce the integration of natural memory.
Scholars interpret the continuous flow lines beneath all three panels as representing the stone-consciousness of Sanctuary Vale—a living witness that endures beyond human events.