This painting speaks more to me than any other work of art I have seen throughout the years. I resonated with this piece mostly after the events that have recently taken place in my life. The main object is as important to me as the background. The detail that appeals the most to me are the hands at the center.
There are four hands grasping onto each other’s with such love and support, while at the same time being as gentle as a delicate touch. The hands are evidently varying in age range and to me represents, from top to bottom, my daughter, myself, my mother, and my grandmother. We have always been very close, and holding each others hands with such a tight grip seems to show how we have always taken care of one another. This piece symbolizes my culture and how Cubans are very family-oriented. We keep our loved ones very close to us and never stop showing them how much we care for them. The background of the painting speaks to me on many levels. The background of the painting contains yellow and blue, which mix together in some areas to form shades of green. Although the blue reminds me of bluejays and tranquility, the background is fairly chaotic, consisting of twirling brush strokes. This represents the craziness that can go on in the outside world, but the hands represent the unification of family in our lives. The pops of red color remind me of cardinals, who are thought to be connected to a loved one’s death. It is said that cardinals, and even bluejays, appear after someone you love passes away, and it is seen as a sign of comfort and peace.
I chose this piece because it fiercely reminds me of my grandmother, Mima. My grandmother recently passed away in May, and I wasn’t able to see her since before the pandemic, due to regulations after she was put into a nursing home. She is one of the most important people in my life, as she is the only grandparent I have ever known. My other three grandparents passed before I could even remember them. Throughout the last few years, Mima had been deteriorating in health and her memory was being washed away, due to Alzheimer’s disease. Up until her last moments of life, she remembered exactly who I was and recognized my voice, even though she had lost her sight.
This piece represents who I am as a person because I will always be that little girl that my grandmother raised, who became the caring daughter I am, and then flourished into the dedicated mother I am. Mima always expressed how proud of me she was, and her death has taken an immense toll on me. It is the first time someone close to me has passed away, and I simply haven’t known how to handle it. I will always cherish my memories with my grandmother, and now this piece of artwork has a special place in my heart.
Comments