Liberty

My work, Liberty, reimagines the memento mori (latin phrase: remember you will die) tradition, where putti who were seen as divine helpers and skulls served as symbols of reassurance in the Dutch Golden Age, an era of plague, war, and upheaval. I chose to re-illustrate this motif as its meaning remains largely relevant to our modern world, where the confrontation with mortality remains universal. Historically, the works were often monochromatic illustrations that felt distant or even chilling to a modern viewer. I sought to reimagine the motif in full colour and realism, making its consoling purpose immediately understood by the contemporary public. I used a warm autumnal palette and chiaroscuro to evoke an ethereal glow, aiming to visualise acceptance and solace within life's natural cycle. I hope to evoke understanding of our place within a timeless, natural order.

Artist
Wong Min Xuan Jolin

Medium
Oil on canvas
76 x 76 cm

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