Revenge Is a Dish Best Served Cold
48” x 72” 2020 Oil on Board
Historically, I have always drawn out each painting in detail and have not deviated from the original drawing as I painted. In this case; however, more layers of meaning were added as I worked to make this painting more nuanced and hopefully visually more interesting.
Originally, it was a commentary about aging and the need for us as individuals and as a society to have more open, honest discussions regarding end-of-life issues.
I began with the Inuit myth that they sent their elderly out on ice floes to die when they were no longer productive. I could not find any proof that this actually happened but I liked the visual concept.
I added a raven next. Ravens act as psychopomps, connecting the material world with the world of spirits. When I added the polar bear and the wolf, I realized that a new meaning could be conveyed- that of animal’s revenge on man for destroying their habitat.
Lastly, I aded lupines to camouflage the brutality and add another layer- that of our warming climate as evidenced by the invasive alien species- such as lupines- that are now spreading to the Arctic as a result of global warming.