Sad Day — Art Inspiration

Art is not something that can be created by merely thinking about it. There is always a thought process behind it. Some things in art creation can be unconscious though. I love that everyone can see their own story in my artworks, and I hope that my art can trigger imaginations and provoke thoughts. But of course as any creator, I put my personal meanings, stories, memories and vision into every piece.

I get a lot of questions about inspiration behind my art, so here’s a deep review of my artwork ‘Sad Day’. It’s very minimalistic, but each detail is meaningful. By capturing the mood of a single moment, I hope to invite the viewer to reflect on their own experiences, and to find solace in the beauty of melancholy.

Woman

My portrayal of a woman in this artwork is inspired by decadence and art deco. Decadent artists portrayed women mystically and symbolically, often as ethereal, seductive and deadly beings like Medusa and Salome. In art deco, which really blossomed in the roaring ‘20s, women started smoking, drinking cocktails and dressing like men. And the image of women in art became more complicated, sophisticated and subtle.

I wanted to create an image of vulnerable yet confident and free woman, who enjoys hedonism, but more in a melancholic way. Her nude body is exposed to the viewers, but she still remains distant and mysterious, focused on her own thoughts and feelings. We know nothing about her, and can only feel her blues. But what’s on her mind? It’s up for interpretation.

Black Cat

Cats appear to be the best antidepressant — graceful, gentle, the embodiment of comfort — and at the same time — the repository of vices: lustful, lazy, impudent. Black cat is a classic attribute in the images of the witches, being a sign of bad feelings and changeable female nature.

The Cat

Come, superb cat, to my amorous heart;
Hold back the talons of your paws,
Let me gaze into your beautiful eyes
Of metal and agate.

When my fingers leisurely caress you,
Your head and your elastic back,
And when my hand tingles with the pleasure
Of feeling your electric body,

In spirit I see my woman. Her gaze
Like your own, amiable beast,
Profound and cold, cuts and cleaves like a dart,

And, from her head down to her feet,
A subtle air, a dangerous perfume
Floats about her dusky body.

• Le Chat (The Cat) by Charles Baudelaire

Bacchantes Vase

In 1927, French jeweler and glass designer René Lalique’s created the Bacchantes vase. The iconic design features the young priestesses of Bacchus with their voluptuous beauty and curves. A work of unparalleled beauty, the splendor and sensuality of the vase continue to leave admirers spellbound and brings elegance into everyday life. I have a vase like this at home, and I wanted to add it to the artwork as a symbol of divine femininity.

Lily Flowers

Depending on the context, a single flower can represent reproduction or decay, purity or promiscuity, love or hardship — or nothing more than a pile of petals. Lily is one of the most potently symbolic flowers. Often associated with devotion, purity and innocence, they are also evoking femininity and fragility, sensuality. At the same time white lilies are the most popular flowers for funerals. In this artwork white lilies bring a sense of fragility and transience to the scene, highlighting the ephemeral nature of our emotions and experiences.

Rain

In art, water is considered the universal symbol for change — it is forever flowing, and can take any course. Art that feature rain will most always have a sense of melancholy or gloom about them. I also intended to picture the rain in the window as a wall, covering the woman from the outside world.

Black and White

I use just black and white to create a powerful sense of mood. Drawing the woman in an almost empty interior, I explore the relationship between figure and space. And because of the contrast between opposite colors, my artwork appears striking and intriguing.

Music

Title of the artwork is simple, but in my mind I was referencing to the ‘Sad Day’ by FKA Twigs. This song explores the complexities of an enigmatic and addictive cycle of love and loss.

Art Print

Sad Day is available as a museum-quality art print — shop here.