G.H.O.S.T
The G.H.O.S.T series contains four paintings of spiritual beings and nymphs inspired by Greek mythology, ancient folklore and legend.
Each painting has it’s own distinct: predominant colour, shapes, and creatures—the combination depicting physical and spiritual realms and the feelings the mythological stories bring to me. Expressing the mythology and my feelings in hearing these stories was my challenge and joy. This series participated at the Hive Gallery’s 18th Anniversary in L.A., California, US.
Widow
Widow was inspired by Arachne, (Greek: “Spider”) in Greek mythology,
the daughter of Idmon of Colophon in Lydia, a dyer in purple.
Arachne was a weaver who acquired such skill in her art that
she ventured to challenge Athena, goddess of war, handicraft, and practical reason.
The image of a girl looking through a purple fog came to my mind from the story.
It would be a highly intuitive soul with a wisdom in her deep purple eyes.
She expresses her world through myriad spider webs with magnificent patterns and ever-changing abstraction.
Diabolica
Diabolica(Idolomantis diabolica aka the devil’s flower mantis) was inspired by African mythology.
A unique characteristic of the mantis is that the female kills and eats the male after he has impregnated her. In myth, Mantis personifies the concept that creation is not only birth but death as well and that through death, life is renewed. Myths about Mantis often reveal him as a shapeshifter. Mantis is the most beloved incarnation of the San Creator god |Kaggen. |Kaggen could transform himself into any animal form, but the forms of the mantis and the eland (a type of antelope) were his favorite. In one myth, Eland was the well-loved first son of Mantis, who wept when Eland was killed. This myth taught the San to honor the death of an eland, their master animal.
Sirene
Sirene was created based upon Greek mythology, the Sirens (Greek singular: Σειρήν Seirēn). Sirens were dangerous creatures, who lured nearby sailors with their enchanting music and singing voices to shipwreck on the rocky coast of their island. Roman poets placed them on some small islands called Sirenum scopuli. The vision I saw from the story was a beautiful young female who was heartbroken by someone she loved once and now all she has is the feelings of vengeance. Will she ever feel love again? Or will she always be a fearful spirit who would curse and destroy someone?
Dawn
Dawn was inspired and created by Greco-Roman mythology Eos, (Greek) the personification of the dawn. According to the Greek poet Hesiod’s Theogony, she was the daughter of the Titan Hyperion and the Titaness Theia and sister of Helios, the sun god, and Selene, the moon goddess.
Dawn is a visualisation of a female goddess who brings hope at the end of a dark tunnel. Her serenity makes the world feel more peaceful and calm.