Olivia's Art Portfolio
SELF PORTRAIT TRIPTYCH
1 – HELIUM
Date: 2019.10
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Medium: Oil on canvas
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In this triptych, I use chemical elements that follow a trend to synthesize my personal growth and express my passion for science. The idea of combining art and science is inspired by Italian polymath Leonardo da Vinci's drawing Vitruvian Man. The second element in the periodic table, helium represents my early stage. Me looking down with my safety-blanket-like hair implies my shyness and preference to my comfort zone, like this unreactive gas.The ordered background strokes are intended to represent an unenergetic, stable state, and cool colours to correspond to helium and create a sense of melancholy.
2 – CARBON
Date: 2019.11
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Medium: Oil on board, acrylic, graphite pencil
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A transition element, carbon is the theme of my second piece which implies a stage of change. There is a metamorphosis from the graphite form of carbon to diamond with my hair breaking the graphite. This shows my effort to overcome my inertness and to find my self worth. This is echoed by my more confident facial expression. The background texture and theme colour of green are intended to emulate plants as they are organic substances containing carbon and symbolizing growth and vitality.
3 – OXYGEN
Date: 2019.11
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Medium: Oil on canvas
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Oxygen comes after helium and carbon in the periodic table and is the most reactive among them, contributing to combustion. This concept together with my exuberant smile and flowing hair implies that after the previous two stages, I have become a more extroverted girl. I have made fire as part of my hair to connect myself to oxygen and express my hope to bring energy to the world around me. I have used my colours boldly to express my confidence and enthusiasm.
