πππππππππ : We all know the Botticelli painting - a willowy, porcelain woman stands on a seashell having been birthed from the sea, demurely clutching her long, strawberry blond tresses to cover her genitals, her other hand draped across her breastsβ¦
Its a visual depiction of the Roman iteration of Venus- born of seafoam, the goddess of love, prosperity, desire, and victory in battle. Popular, contemporary understandings of Venus (Greek Aphrodite) emphasize her amorous associations - Goddess of Love, known for being the absolute epitome of beautyβ¦what we dont often know is Venus/Aphroditeβs lineage in the Sumerian goddess Inanna and subsequent Akkadian goddess Ishtar. Inannaβs best known lore sees her harrowing, embattled journey to the underworld to bring her sister, Ereshkigal, back to the land of the living (showing early threads of Persephone lore) i love seeing the ways folklore interweaves across cultures throughout time - exploring its evolution as it feeds into the next iteration, connecting generations across borders and time (especially that of the SWANA/ Mediterranean region, my vatan)
ππππππ : i let myself wander and play with this drawing - grabbing at strands from different tapestries to create this Venusia. Taking the traditional Bottecelli composition of a divine femme, the embodiment of beauty born unto this earthly realm from lapping seafoam in the cradle of a seashell, the roses associated with Venus & Aphrodite and Inannaβ¦but tapping into one of my ideas of beauty - rather than reaching for her flaxen hair to cover her body, she digs her claws into a thick, dark, curling mane to sweep it back, unashamed of her bare breasts and soft stomach bouncing as she joyously laughs, wide nostrils flaring.
Beauty and strength, land and water, above and below, love and ferocity - these arent antithetical concepts. Dualities -like folklore- ebb & flow into each other creating dynamic & delicious culture and people.
9Γ12β print of original artwork by Kita (thatβs me!) Printed (on thick, beautifully textured watercolor paper) and packed (in a biodegradable cellulose sleeve) by me, in my very own tiny Chicago studio surrounded by Iranian folklore, cats, plants & art alchemy. Story card about the art included.
πππππππππ : We all know the Botticelli painting - a willowy, porcelain woman stands on a seashell having been birthed from the sea, demurely clutching her long, strawberry blond tresses to cover her genitals, her other hand draped across her breastsβ¦
Its a visual depiction of the Roman iteration of Venus- born of seafoam, the goddess of love, prosperity, desire, and victory in battle. Popular, contemporary understandings of Venus (Greek Aphrodite) emphasize her amorous associations - Goddess of Love, known for being the absolute epitome of beautyβ¦what we dont often know is Venus/Aphroditeβs lineage in the Sumerian goddess Inanna and subsequent Akkadian goddess Ishtar. Inannaβs best known lore sees her harrowing, embattled journey to the underworld to bring her sister, Ereshkigal, back to the land of the living (showing early threads of Persephone lore) i love seeing the ways folklore interweaves across cultures throughout time - exploring its evolution as it feeds into the next iteration, connecting generations across borders and time (especially that of the SWANA/ Mediterranean region, my vatan)
ππππππ : i let myself wander and play with this drawing - grabbing at strands from different tapestries to create this Venusia. Taking the traditional Bottecelli composition of a divine femme, the embodiment of beauty born unto this earthly realm from lapping seafoam in the cradle of a seashell, the roses associated with Venus & Aphrodite and Inannaβ¦but tapping into one of my ideas of beauty - rather than reaching for her flaxen hair to cover her body, she digs her claws into a thick, dark, curling mane to sweep it back, unashamed of her bare breasts and soft stomach bouncing as she joyously laughs, wide nostrils flaring.
Beauty and strength, land and water, above and below, love and ferocity - these arent antithetical concepts. Dualities -like folklore- ebb & flow into each other creating dynamic & delicious culture and people.
9Γ12β print of original artwork by Kita (thatβs me!) Printed (on thick, beautifully textured watercolor paper) and packed (in a biodegradable cellulose sleeve) by me, in my very own tiny Chicago studio surrounded by Iranian folklore, cats, plants & art alchemy. Story card about the art included.
