Welcome to my Senior year sustained investigation! I focused on empathetically representing women in Greek mythology through the motifs and themes associated with them. By separating the female characters from the men who usually define their
stories I am exploring both their individuality and the ways they relate to
women today. The synthesis of this portfolio allowed me to explore and
research Greek mythology through a visual perspective, referencing the art historical movements that related to the characters I was representing.
“Ariadne & The Strings of Fate”
24×36
Oil Paint, Original Source Photo
Ariadne was the Princess of Crete, daughter of Kind Minos and Pasiphae. The story goes that when Athenian hero Theseus arrived at the shores of Crete to defeat the legendary Minotaur, trapped in a labyrinth under the castle, Ariadne fell in love. Determined to help Theseus, despite her father’s wishes, Ariadne held a string at the end of the maze, allowing Theseus to find his way back after killing the Minotaur. This particular picture, of a sheltered princess holding tightly to a string to save her love, inspired this painting, the gold thread that Ariadne is holding, is a reference to the strings of fate that measure life in Greek mythology.
For her help, Theseus promised to marry her, whisking her away to Athens to save her from her father’s rage. Instead, he abandoned her, alone on an island. At this point, fate turns again for Ariadne, as she is saved and discovered by the god Dionysus. She lives happily on the island, in love with Dionysus, and when she dies, he turns her crown into a constellation. In my painting, while her face is alight with the current string she is holding, the cosmos of her future swirls around her, donning her head with the crown of stars that will soon grace the sky.
Recommended Reading:
Ariadne by Jennifer Saint
“Cassandra’s Curse”
9×12
Acrylic, Metalic Oli Stick, Original Source Photo
Cassandra’s story takes place during the infamous Trojan War. She was a Princess of Troy and a Priestess of Apollo. During the long years of the war, Apollo came down and imposed himself upon her. When she fought back, sticking to her oaths as a Priestess, Apollo cursed her to see the future and have no one believe her when she spoke of it.
In my painting, Cassandra is cast in a red and orange glow, a reference to the fires that took over Troy upon its defeat by the Greeks. However, her eyes, which had already foreseen this, remain blue and cloudy, separate and detached from the world around her. The gold in the background alludes to the divinity that cursed her.
Recommended Reading:
The Silence of The Girls by Pat Barker
The Women of Troy by Pat Barker
“Hands of Hope”
9×11
Linoleum, Speedball, Water-based ink, Cotton Paper
The story of Pandora is one of the most well-known of Greek Mythology. She is the first woman, blamed for the existence of all things evil in the world. She was gifted to man with a box or vase, told she could never open it. In her isolation, curiosity got the better of her, and when she opened it, all things evil entered the world. Sickness, death, and misery flowed into the world, but following those curses was another new thing, Hope.
In this block print, Pandora gently holds her hands to release the dove of hope flying above her. Her flowing hair represents the overwhelming evil she let into the world, the hands of the gods and men above her reaching out to stop her actions.
I chose the medium of block printing and the more traditional references to Greek pottery and patterns because of Pandora’s connection to the beginning of man.
“Penelopes War”
20×16
Oil, Embroidery Thread, Original Source Photo
Penelope is best known for her role in the Odyssey, as Odysseus’s faithful and patient wife, holding down the fort while Odysseus spends 10 years getting back to his home Ithaca. While he is battling giants and sleeping with Godesses, Penelope is fighting her war. Odysseus’s absence has left an opening in Ithaca, as Penelope’s Husband. Her house is overrun by suitors vying for her hand, as they suck the wealth out of her estate. She promises to marry one after she completes weaving the funeral shroud for her Father-in-law. However, while she weaves all day long, she spends her nights picking out her progress, ensuring that the shroud will never be complete while she waits for Odysseus.
I wanted to portray Penelope’s own cunning and resilience in this portrait. The blue background represents the oceans Odysseus is trapped traversing, as well as the overwhelming presence of the suitors. In her hair are woven pieces of gold thread, and she is framed by a singular, winding, piece of string. Both references to the weaving that defined her story.
Recommended Reading:
The Penelopiad by Margret Atwood
The Odyssey by Homer
“Doves”
36×24
Canvas, Oil Paint, Original Source Photo
Helen of Troy, or “The face that launched a thousand ships” has always been a controversial figure. Known as the most beautiful woman and daughter of Zeus, the matter of her marriage was only settled by an oath of all men involved to protect her. This oath was called to action when she left Sparta with Paris, Prince of Troy. Paris was promised Helen by the goddess Aphrodite after he proclaimed her the most beautiful of the goddesses. Helen’s departure started the Trojan War as the Greeks left to bring her back from Troy.
This painting represents the fabled moment of decision of Helen’s departure from Greece. This is a moment of ambiguity in her story, did she willingly go with Paris? Was she captured? Or under Aphrodite’s spell? This was the ambiguity I wanted to portray in my painting. Two Doves, the bird of Aphrodite, swamp Helen’s figure as she stares into the sea that will take her to Troy, taking over the painting just as Aphrodite and Paris took over Helen’s story.
Recommended Readings:
A Thousand Ships by Natalie Haynes
Daughters of Sparta by Claire Heywood
Helen of Troy by Lorde
“A Mothers Revenge”
29×23
Oil, Acrylic, Original Source Photo
This painting depicts Clytemmestra, sister of Helen and wife of King Agamemnon. Her story is defined by the death of her daughter, Iphigenia. She was told to bring Iphigenia to the Greek base, where they were preparing to sail to Troy on behalf of Helen. She was told Iphigenia was to marry the famous Greek warrior Achilles, but at the altar, Agamemnon killed Imphigenia as a sacrifice to the gods for the winds to take them to Troy. Enraged and filled with Grief, Clytemmestra returned to Mycenae where she took over Agamemnon’s affairs, plotting his murder upon his return. Aided by her lover Aegisthus, Clytemmestra killed Agamemnon, earning the wrath of her remaining children and creating a bloody cycle of family murders.
A sister painting to “Doves” In more than one way, this painting is full of rage whereas “Doves” is thoughtful. Ckytemmestra looks down and is shadowed by darkness, abstract colors surrounding her. On her shoulder is a reference to her cunning and the Furies that would go on to haunt her family, a crow to Helen’s doves.
“Arachnes Web”
23.5×24.8
Canvas, Embroidery Thread, Fabric
Samples, Fabric Glue, Original Source Photo
Arachnes story is defined by her ambition. A famous weaver in her small town, Arachne boasted that her skills were better than Athena, the goddess of weaving. Hearing this, Athena challenged Arachne to a weaving challenge. Athena wove a tapestry of God’s gifts to mankind, while Arachne wove a portrait of their horrible actions towards humans. At the end of the challenge, it was clear that Arachne won, in a rage, Athena turned her into the first Spider.
This portrait is defined by its medium. The forms of Arachne’s face are made of scraps of fabric samples, a reference to her weaving, and the background spiderweb to her fate.
