Award-winning artist Kristel Bechara has unveiled a series of paintings that are inspired by the turbulent events of the past year, encouraging viewers to find hope from within.

This series of paintings is named after an epic poem from the early fifth century AD by the Latin poet, Prudentius. Considered one of the most influential works in medieval allegory, the themes and ideas explored in the poem, Psychomachia, are timeless with its many verses being of great relevance particularly in today’s time.

The plot of the poem revolves around the battle between the virtues of Hope, Sobriety, Chastity and Humility against the vices of Pride, Wrath, Paganism and Avarice. This battle culminates with each virtue prevailing over its opposing vice, with Chastity defeating Lust, Anger surrendering to Patience and Love being victorious over Greed. All the characters in the poem are portrayed as women because linguistically, Latin uses feminine pronouns when abstract concepts are being discussed.

This series is also an exploration of the battle between good and evil and all the grey areas in between. Each painting is an invitation of self-exploration and discovery through Kristel’s signature style of contrasting and expressive colours. The series reimagines Greek mythology through Kristel’s contemporary lens, taking viewers on a journey within. The paintings portray mythological figures and fables in a new light, from a perspective that will leave the viewer asking poignant questions about life, love, values and the human condition. The collection is available starting from 25,000 AED. Here are a few key pieces from the collection:

Sea of Life

Acrylic on Canvas 70 x 115 CM

Just like the ocean in the oeuvre, Life is full of uncertain waves that bring challenges and obstacles as we try to sail our galleons in this journey of self-discovery. Going by the rules of sailing, why should we sail against the current and risk losing ourselves in the struggle? Why can we not work with the currents of Life and let ourselves be guided to our path and our destiny? As they say, it is not the destination that matters, it is the journey that gives us the clarity and understanding of who we are and where we are headed.

Justice

Acrylic on Canvas 80 x 120 CM

Amongst the four cardinal virtues recurring in Greek philosophy, the virtue of Justice is for those who render and safeguard the rights of others. Justice has had numerous depictions in all mythologies, cultures and fables over centuries where the common thread amongst these depictions is the gender of justice…it has always been female. It is from this virtue, civil and balanced societies are conceived and maintained.

In this oeuvre, the depiction of the Lady of Justice is with a colorful scarf that is blindfolding her. It symbolizes her impartiality, for she does not see status, wealth or class. She is immune to all biases and therefore is the guardian of fairness and equality. As we lose ourselves in the swirling pattern of the blindfold, we are left to think about our biases and how they fog up our perspective. Maybe we are the ones wearing a blindfold?

Cassandra’s Dream

Acrylic on Canvas 100 x 130 CM

Cassandra is a venerated figure of Greek mythology and epic tradition, who as a priestess rejected the advances of the Olympian deity, Apollo who mesmerized by her beauty had given her the gift of prophecy. Not being pleased by the rejection, Apollo cursed Cassandra so no one would believe any of her prophesies that all eventually became tragic realities. This led her to be mocked and ostracised by her family and the Trojan society, even resulting in her frequent imprisonment in the city’s citadel.

Her tragic fate now serves as a popular metaphor, known as the Cassandra Complex, which is a term frequently used in the corporate and political world to define someone who has the ability to see what is going to happen but is not believed.

This oeuvre finds Cassandra falling into one of her dream like states as she has one of her many prophesies that will fall on deaf ears. The artwork pays tribute to her much-admired beauty and femininity that even had one of the greatest Greek gods fall for her.