Title: Wśród gwiazd (Among the Stars)

Date: 2024

Description: Together with the portrait Sowa-mama (Owl-Mother), it forms a bracket, marking the beginning and end of my Ph.D. thesis. Both portraits show the evolution of our relationship. My main intention for this painting was to check how my mother “feels” now. She “painted” herself in extraterrestrial spaces. The colour spectrum of the painting is dominated by yellows and whitened violets and coral pink. In the background of this painting, three stars are depicted. They represent my two sisters and me. They can also be associated with fireworks, celebration, and happiness. Mom is wearing a necklace of golden beads, from which light reflects, illuminating her face. When I painted this portrait, I felt that she was in a good place. I also felt peace and relief and the closure of my inner process that was taking place during my research and working on the portraits of the other heroes and heroines of my Ph.D. thesis. Something ended and died; something new is lurking at me.

Technique, dimension: oil on canvas, 99 × 82 cm

First showing: 2024, Oblatów 4

Ownership: Monika Waraxa