Transformation begins with a decision
We often think that the biggest obstacle to change is the fear of the unknown. However, over time I’ve come to understand that the hardest part is usually letting go of what we already know. Staying in a place that no longer represents us can feel more comfortable than facing the uncertainty of a new path.
It was precisely this idea that gave rise to this watercolor, “Flight from Olympus”. Rather than depicting an episode from classical mythology, I intended to use that symbolic universe to speak to a moment we’ve all experienced at some point. When we feel that the time has come to leave a stage of our lives behind, yet we still don’t know what we’ll find next.
A story inspired by mythology
I’ve always been fascinated by classical mythology because I discovered that its stories continue to speak to us about the same questions and conflicts we face today. Without realizing it, those stories began to move away from the classical narratives and become metaphors for human experiences.
Flight from Olympus belongs to that early phase of my painting, in which mythology became the language through which I began to express my concerns. The trees, roots, and nature that would later become part of my work had not yet appeared. Still, something was already present that has never ceased to accompany me: the desire to use painting to explore the great transformations we undergo throughout life.
What does Olympus represent?
In this watercolor, Olympus symbolizes everything that seemingly offers us security. It could be a way of life, a relationship, a job, or any situation that once made sense to us but no longer reflects who we truly are. Staying there may seem like the easiest option, even though, deep down, we know the time has come to move on.
The figure begins to fragment as it leaves that place. That transformation represents the uncertainty that accompanies every major change. When we leave a stage of life behind, we feel that a part of us disappears as well. We do not yet know our destination, but we understand that staying where we are is no longer an option.
The Origin of My Visual Language
Over time, I came to understand that these watercolors were not just about mythological characters. They also began to reflect questions that had always been with me, and that would eventually shape my own artistic language. Those early symbols marked the beginning of an evolution that continues to be present in my work.
If you’d like to learn how that language came to be and discover other watercolors from this period, keep reading: