Level 2 Art
Students Choice OCAD Art Award
“This piece is about finding ‘hope’ in one of the darkest events in human history- the Holocaust. This was a personal struggle that I went through, hence why I used myself as the model, and shows the conflicting feelings whilst trying to fit the two pieces, ‘hope’ and the ‘holocaust’, together. However, this piece is also a testament to the fact that there was hope in the Holocaust, a fact that becomes so obvious as the stories of individual people are read. In this piece, hope is represented by the butterfly, as done by others that experienced the Holocaust themselves”.
The butterfly for Sophia symbolises endurance, rebirth and hope. From her research she described how many children in concentration camps included butterflies in their drawings and poems - so this added further depth to its inclusion.
The gold leaf was inspired by the art form used in Japanese art to fix broken vases. Sophia uses that as a symbol for mending and reconciliation that she felt was needed to join hope and the Holocaust together. In concluding her final piece concept, Sophia says that “just because something has been broken, it doesn’t mean that is has lost value or beauty; brokenness brings with it pain, but also allows new light to shine through its history”.
A touching project whose message is expertly presented with a stunning final painting. Your concepts and development of ideas are highly professional and as a viewer it’s hard not to be touched by it’s intention. It really grabbed our attention and your eye for detail is wonderful.
I’m sure you will touch others as they read what your concept is about, as it can reach far beyond the holocaust for sure.
Congratulations Sophia!