Fortune
Oil, glitter, & 24K Gold Leaf on wood panel
48 x 48 inches
October 30th, 2019
Fortune is my first piece and my transition into mobile art. Using stylistic inspiration from Asian culture, the Chinese Zodiac is used to represent generalizations embodied by each of the twelve signs. Ironically, the piece challenges the viewers to scratch beneath the surface and dig into the deeper, darker concepts behind the symbolism in the painting. Fortune discusses the paradoxical nature of our society. Economy and value established by society have become a large part of our life and our personal sense of worth. People are often “blinded”, “deafened,” or forced to hold their tongue for the sake of these values. At the end of the day, what is value? Is it paper? Is it currency? Is it rock? Is it a diamond? Or were these items simply imparted with value by humans? “Precious” 24 karat gold leaf is placed next to “cheap” commercial black glitter to encourage the viewer to challenge the relative value imparted on these materials. The twelve paintings are designed to represent time and the timelessness of value. Every year, the painting of the corresponding zodiac sign of the will be moved up, representing the changing nature of value in society and the persistent importance of value in society.
