In 1979, while studying theology at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom, Canadian native John Devlin began experiencing frequent psychotic episodes that ultimately ended his plans to become a priest. After returning to Canada, he underwent several hospitalizations before embarking on the creation of a meticulously drawn utopian city, Nova Cantabrigiensis, inspired by his deep nostalgia for Cambridge.
Devlin’s drawings are filled with hidden codes and symbols, most notably the recurring 3:7 ratio. Considered by him to possess a magical quality—it mirrors the number of vowels and consonants in the name “Jesus Christ” and is reflected in the architecture of King’s College Chapel in Cambridge—this ratio organizes his works like an alchemical blueprint and frequently appears in other media. Devlin believes that any object not designed according to this ratio is fated to destruction, and that by correcting the flaws of nature in this way, he can counter disease and death.