20/04/2025
“Echoes of the Arena” is a tribute to resilience, grit, and staying true to one’s values in every circumstance - deeply inspired by the Gladiator Summit and Dariush Soudi’s teachings.
The piece merges expressionist realism with symbolism. I found a powerful parallel in the sea holly, an exotic blue flower that thrives in the harshest conditions. Growing near my mother’s childhood home, it symbolizes strength, determination, protection, authenticity, grace and unwavering beauty.
To capture its essence, I froze a single bloom in ice, intuitively shifting its colours with paint - the embodiment of potential, temporarily suppressed, but unbreakable nonetheless.
The frozen vibrant petals reflect adaptability in the way that we endure and evolve when faced with challenges, without compromising our core truths. Because even inside the freeze, there’s fire. Color. Life. The entire piece is set against a black backdrop, not to evoke darkness, but depth. It is a mirror of the inner arena all modern day gladiators step into.
It feels only right to share this with the world during a time of personal transformation. “Echoes of the Arena” will be exhibited at World Art Dubai (WAD) from the 17th-20th of April - Za’abeel Hall 3, Stand RA01-05, RA10 (Artezaar Gallery)
🎨150x100cm
🎨Oil on Canvas
