Kangaroo (2020) Kolaże autorstwa Hélène Litorelle

The story behind the drawing


At the beginning of our life we learn how to put our dreams and images into words. The ability to communicate depends on this action. As we become older, images and words form symbols that are common to our cultural environment and to our humanity. Unfortunately, illnesses, different problems and cataclysms that happen to us show how far we have gone from understanding the deep connection with nature ( which we are a part of ). The artist Helene Litorelle wraps the latest news from the newspapers in animal symbols and call us to reflect on the situation in which we find ourselves.

The news about Covid-19 are shown with the symbol of a tiger, which get into our lives with ferocious claws. The tiger can symbolize both life and death, both evil and the victory of good. The artist portrays quotes on the stock market in the form of a crocodile. Medieval storytellers used the crocodile symbol as an allegory for hypocrisy. This image remains the same in the modern European views. The well-known expression “crocodile tears” is an evidence of that views. The kangaroo symbol refer to bushfires in Australia, which itself is a national symbol. The news about the Notre Dame Cathedral which was burned down in Paris a while ago is shown in the same collage. The same is with lily flower - the symbol of Christianity and Our Lady and the symbol of purity and hope. The news about Brexit is shown as two ravens flying towards each other, which indicates the opposition of the two sides.
The artist makes it possible to rethink the events of recent years through the archetypal images that we have stored on an unconscious level and are the universal language of feelings.

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Animals ArtAustralia Forest FiresNewsModern ArtHélène Litorelle Art