“Rebirth”
2024
(6,5”x7”)
In this piece, I explore the complex themes of loss, war, and rebirth through imagery that reflects both devastation and resilience. A burnt house stands as a symbol of destruction, embodying the relentless impact of violence, while the surrounding landscape offers hope—a testament to life’s capacity to endure. At its center, a blooming cherry tree rises, symbolizing rebirth, as its roots, though cut, decay only to nurture new growth as the rotten roots will soon turn into new sprouts. Behind me lie figures representing those tortured and murdered in Ukraine by Russian troops. Through depicting the death brought by war, I sought to convey the pain, rage, and grief as the weight that will forever remain deeply embedded within, as the new life will strive once again.
In this painting, I wanted to depict my process as an artist, the weight and intensity I feel of representing war on canvas. Each brushstroke, whether deliberate or instinctive, becomes a choice—a story shared, a perspective offered, a mark that may resonate and impact others deeply. Born from a battlefield of emotions such as grief, rage, resilience, and hope—this work reflects the inner conflict I experience as an artist of attempting to honor the past, reckon with the present, and decide what kind of story I’m trying to bring to life onto the new canvas.