Directions of Life
Series of 3 silk screens in Iris print.
In Directions of Life, I draw from the symbolic language of 18th-century family crests, which historically conveyed social status and heritage. These emblems served as coded narratives of identity and belonging. In this series, I reinterpret their forms to construct a contemporary visual dialogue—one that reflects how identity is shaped, questioned, and redefined in today’s complex world.
The central visual motif across the series is the Tree of Life, reshaped into vessels such as an ewer, bowl, or amphora. These forms suggest the fluidity and multiplicity of life paths, each a container for personal choice, cultural influence, and existential balance.
- Directions of Life incorporates a compass—subtly disguised as a pet’s playball—at its base. It questions the illusion of clear direction: Is it truly easy to decide what you’ll become in life—a mermaid, a bird, a dragon, or a monster?
- Directions of Life – Lions explores the metaphor of the lion as a symbol of human nature. We navigate between yin and yang, softness and force, choosing whether to embody a domestic cat, a wild beast, or the lion king.
- Directions of Life – Birds features a scale whose axis is made from a bow and arrow—evoking ambiguity in moral judgment. Acts intended as good can harm, while seemingly negative actions might protect. The line between right and wrong is often blurred.
The original compositions were created in black ink on paper and then translated into limited-edition Iris silkscreen prints using two color layers. Variations in the printing process render each piece unique. While produced in series, each print is treated as an original work.
Directions of Life was awarded the BAS Grafiekprijs 2014 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, recognizing it as the year’s best graphic artwork.
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