Painting Project: Using Objects as Symbols and Allegory (Every Step I take)

Painting Project: Using Objects as Symbols and Allegory:

When a butterfly dies their bodies do not decompose, they remain in their natural state of beauty forever.

For my symbolic figure, I chose to use a butterfly. I wanted to portray this butterfly as a tattoo placed on the pulse of my aunts foot, which will be molded in the ballet foot position of relevé. I am aware that to the audience this will look like any other foot, although in order to represent its uniqueness I chose to create extreme lighting on the foot, particularly on the front of the foot directly at the butterfly. And as for the butterfly, I chose to paint it in navy blue acrylic (my aunts favorite color). The entire piece is created in tones of grey, black, white, beige and navy in order to give the viewer the optical illusion sensation that they are looking at a bust and not a painting/photograph. I directed the foot to be positioned in relevé, due to my aunt and I’s past in ballet and gymnastics. Also due to the symbolism behind her and I’s need to always wear high heals. Being that we are short, we are constantly wearing heals. I also found it symbolic, because it resembled a sensation of being higher than everyone else (almost like there is a reason as to why the foot is on relevé). Which also leads the viewer to question further into the piece and eventually figure out the meaning.

Inspirations:

I directed this piece after a passage I once wrote:

When a butterfly dies their bodies do not decompose, they remain in their natural state of beauty forever.

Similar to artist Damien Hirst, my family and I share this love for butterflies. To us, a butterfly symbolizes beauty, life and faith. When a butterfly flutters by, it is a sign to never give up and that a loved one is near and will stand by you every step of the way.

The year was 2011, and the month was January. That was around the time that the truth behind my family secret would be revealed. It began with the realization that my grandfather that i’ve known my entire life, was not my biological grandfather, and that I had another aunt that my mother had no recollection of. Once the truth behind this information was revealed things began to change. My grandfather otherwise known as gaga, went from a warm dominant figure in my life, to a distant memory of one. My aunts began treating me like an outsider, and my grandmother started to isolate my family and I from all of the high holiday events. I remember her saying, “It is what’s best for the family at this time, but we can come over for dessert afterwards if you want?” “I did not want dessert” I replied, “I wanted dinner.”

Aside from the negative effect of losing the love from a few of my family members, one of the most beautiful, loving, spiritual, intelligent, wise, and caring women I have ever met just entered my life. She was my butterfly. If it wasn’t for this incident, I would have never met the most inspirational person and for that I am grateful it happened. Danielle has taught my family and I so much about appreciating every moment that you live, and to follow your hopes and dreams. She has gone through hell and back, and still completes the day with her high heels on. When I met my Uncle Marc and Aunt Danielle, Danielle taught me about her philosophy behind butterflies, and how they represent good energy and that her grandmother (who is also my mother’s grandmother) is near. Within that moment I told her, “you are my butterfly.”

The day before I left for New York I decided that I wanted to mark myself with something that would always remind me of my aunt and how she never gives up. That is why I went against my families so called “old religious beliefs” and tattooed a symplicit butterfly upon my foot. It symbolizes that no matter what I will always have a family member by my side every step of the way throughout my journey in life.