The artistic journey that inspired
the World of Sages universe
About The Art Project
Quest of Sages is a multidisciplinary project following my artistic journey to photograph a portrait of one person from every country in the world. Each person photographed for the project is asked to paint a line across a piece of blank art paper. Using the platinum palladium alternative process, their portrait is later printed on top of their painting, creating a collaborative work of art.
Once all 195 countries are completed, the images will be displayed as an art installation by placing the portraits next to each other and connecting the line segments together, ultimately creating one unbroken line the entire world painted. The message is simple yet powerful.
We are one.
16 Expeditions Across the Globe
In pursuit of creating the line painted by the world, I have currently completed three expeditions to 30 countries. On each expedition I spend approximately three months traveling to a region of 8-13 countries. To reach the goal of visiting all 195 countries, I will embark on a total of 16 expeditions: four to Africa, four to Asia, four to Europe, three to the Americas, and one to Oceania.
Expedition One
Central America
Mexico | Panama | Costa Rica | Nicaragua
El Salvador | Belize | Honduras | Guatemala
Expedition Two
Europe I
Portugal | Malta | San Marino | Italy Germany | The Netherlands | Luxembourg
Liechtenstein | Switzerland
Egypt | Sudan | Ethiopia | Somalia | Djibouti
South Sudan | Uganda | Rwanda | Burundi
Kenya | Tanzania | Comoros | Seychelles
Expedition Three
Africa I
Chronicling My Travels Through Mythology
As I ventured to the first 30 countries of the quest, I found myself drawn deeper and deeper into the folklore of the cultures that I encountered along the way. I began studying the myths, legends, and tales of each community that I photographed—stories passed down through generations that speak to their connection with the land, the sky, and the divine. It became clear to me that these narratives weren't remnants of the past. They were living, breathing parts of their present. Inspired by the rich cultural folklore that I discovered, I decided to create an entire fantasy universe to tell my own story.
Through the eyes of the fictional protagonist, Sebastian, The World of Sages follows a mythological journey that mirrors my real-life travels across the globe. As I venture to each new region on my photographic quest, Sebastian embarks on an adventure of his own, tasked with gathering the wisdom of the sages in every country he visits.
Each of the 16 expeditions I embark on will result in its own volume in the fantasy series. In each volume, Sebastian visits the countries I explored in the corresponding expedition, encountering local myths and legends from their cultures along the way. In addition to Sebastian’s quest, a relevant historical event from the region is also relived.
Volume I of The Quest of Sages follows Sebastian from Mexico through the seven countries in Central America. As he seeks out each of the sages in the region, the story also follows Hernán Cortés and his arrival to the New World. The first volume sets the tone for a captivating epic, grounded in our own history and elevated by a world of myth.
World of Sages Overview
The series begins with a divine tragedy that shakes the foundations of the celestial realm. For the first time in history, a god has been murdered. To investigate the mysterious force behind this cosmic anomaly, the High Elementals—four deities commanding the elements of earth, air, fire, and water—assemble. Among them is Poseidon, the High Elemental of Water, who discovers that the only way to subdue this rising evil lies in gathering the wisdom of each of the 195 sages of the world. He entrusts this perilous task to a young mortal, Sebastian, gifting him the ability to wield water magic to aid in his quest. As Sebastian embarks on his journey across the globe, he soon discovers that the god-killing force is not the only threat to humanity. The ruling houses of the great continents seek to expand their influence, spreading conquest and conflict across the land.
Volume I | The Quest of Sages
After the shocking murder of a god on Mount Olympus, Poseidon summons a small council to investigate the cosmic anomaly. He entrusts the young mortal Sebastian with a perilous quest to gather the wisdom of the 195 sages of the world. As Sebastian begins his journey through Central America, he encounters local legends and mythical figures along the way. Meanwhile, Hernán Cortés and a group of Spanish conquistadors make their way to Tenochtitlán, igniting a clash of human ambition and divine forces.
