As much as I may agree with the sentiment, these illustrations are a bit too worshippy to me. She’s a person, who’s living, and has a lot of promise to follow through on. Painting her in this light, literally, puts a bad taste in my mouth. I can’t decide if it’s the iconography aspect making it feel posthumous and elevated, or if it borders on cult of personality. I like to believe “hope” was the theme commissioned, but it doesn’t land for me.
As much as I may agree with the sentiment, these illustrations are a bit too worshippy to me. She’s a person, who’s living, and has a lot of promise to follow through on. Painting her in this light, literally, puts a bad taste in my mouth. I can’t decide if it’s the iconography aspect making it feel posthumous and elevated, or if it borders on cult of personality. I like to believe “hope” was the theme commissioned, but it doesn’t land for me.
Nobody deserves to be worshiped.
Follow ideas and hopes, not people.