The Gaze, 2023

70”x48”

Acrylic and oil painting

In “The Gaze” I employ the mediums of acrylic and oil to cast light on the stories of resistance and resilience. The dark backdrop of the canvas stands in stark contrast to the central image—an eye and an egg—symbols of vision, vulnerability, and the feminine strength that has long been both revered and reviled.

The eye, set in the vortex of the composition, speaks of bravery amid brutality. It is an ode to the courageous women who stood firm in the face of violence, who bore the cruelty of being targeted by police forces aiming to maim their vision. This singular eye, which bears the cost of their struggle, is not merely a wound but a testament to their unwavering spirit and the price paid for demanding change.

Hovering above this eye, the egg serves as a dual metaphor. It evokes the domestic sphere to which women have been traditionally confined, symbolizing both nourishment and the expectations of motherhood. Yet, it also represents potentiality and fragility—the precariousness of emerging movements and the genesis of new life.

The hand that grips the mirror frame, stripped of its reflective surface, challenges the onlooker with a silent proclamation: “See me, acknowledge my reality, for tomorrow, you could be in my place.” This mirror, devoid of reflection, signifies the absence of recognition for the struggles and sacrifices made.

By leaving the arm and the mirror frame unfinished, I beckon the uninitiated and the indifferent to awaken, to complete the image by engaging with the cause, and to mirror the resolve of these resilient fighters. The protest is not merely in the streets but in the very act of witnessing, of refusing to let the incomplete narratives of these women remain unseen and unaddressed.

“The Gaze” is not just a painting; it is a call to consciousness, urging viewers to look beyond the canvas and join in solidarity with those who dare to envision a different future.