Alchemy Arrows

[Elise]

Someone ever thought or wondered about the Alchemy symbol, the arrows, and their meaning?

[pete_w]

I think they symbolize elements that attract (-> <-) each other and repel (<- ->) each other, tension and release, harmony and disharmony. All part of music and art.

[herlock]

I thought of this but could never find an answer.
Interesting to note that the arrows on MK's T-shirt are staight, whereas the arronws on his cow-boy shirt during the BIA tour (e.g. live aid) looks like them, but are curly. To symbolize the smoothness brought by Guy Fletcher's new sound with synthetizer maybe ?

[Elise]

I thought of this but could never find an answer.
Interesting to note that the arrows on MK's T-shirt are staight, whereas the arronws on his cow-boy shirt during the BIA tour (e.g. live aid) looks like them, but are curly. To symbolize the smoothness brought by Guy Fletcher's new sound with synthetizer maybe ?

I never thought of the arrows on that shirt really! Awesome to realize.. I mean the BIA arrows.

[dmg]

It's a well known optical illusion.  One is supposed to look longer than the other because the arrows are pointing apart, but in fact the lines are the same length.

Similar to this one I found:

[Jules]

The arrows are part of the Alchemy collage in which the cover is based

[dmg]

Which was inspired from..? 

[Jules]

Which was inspired from..? 

Brett Whiteley I think it's the name of the author. I think it is from 1973 if memory serves.

[Elise]

Thanks for all these thoughts and amazing stuff!

[the visitor]

As regards the BIA cowboy shirt I don't think it has any relationship with Alchemy by design as in fact, as Jack Sonni writes in his memoirs that MK nicked the shirt off him!

I have always taken Alchemy title and the artwork used on the album portray the intent of a transformation from one thing to another. This can be read on a number of levels from studio band to live performance or perhaps more so, from a basic guitar band to grown up international rock band. Clever.

[Ingo]

Here is my blog post about the alchemy art by Brett Whiteley : http://www.mk-guitar.com/2011/04/20/brett-whiteley-alchemy-the-picture-on-the-alchemy-cover/

And yes, the arrows come from that

[tommym]

Which was inspired from..? 

I always thought it was Keith Haring. I think I have the name right. A respected artist, he was trending during that period, and I think Mark had some T-shirts fashioned based on or directly from some of his designs.

[TJ]

Nah, you can see it in the pics jbaent posted of Alchemy by Brett Whitely.  But wherever they came from, I like 'em!

[tommym]

Nah, you can see it in the pics jbaent posted of Alchemy by Brett Whitely.  But wherever they came from, I like 'em!

Maybe we're talking about 2 different designs. I was thinking of this guy:  https://www.google.com/search?q=keith+haring&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 - not the Alchemy cover.

[tommym]

this artist and art is what I was referring to:
http://www.uniqlo.com/us/product/men-sprz-ny-graphic-t-shirt-keith-haring-147474.html#24~/men/featured/weekly-promotion/ut/~