Penthos , 2023. Mixed Media on Canvas Approx. 120cm x 100cm
“A Moment of Mourning” is about grief, and how it is something every person experiences in some way. It is an emotion that crosses cultures, communities and individual experiences, even though we all deal with it differently.
The central figure, “Penthos,” is my depiction of the Ancient Greek deity of mourning and lamentation. I created this work while working in nursing homes. The people I cared for were not my family, but when they passed away, I still felt their loss alongside their families. I had built relationships with these people, and being there when they died made me realise how much grief can be shared between people, even when they are not related.
The swirling shapes around Penthos represent the mess of emotions that can come with grief. When someone dies, there can be sadness, confusion, anger, relief and many other feelings all happening at once. Penthos is shown in blue to reflect the sadness associated with mourning, while his tears represent the release of an emotion that people often try to hide.
The skull in his hands represents the person he is mourning. Beneath him are white lilies, referencing funeral flowers and creating a final resting place for the person he has lost.
Within the two upper horizontal stripes, I included scenes of wailing women, graves and graveyards, battlefields and hospitals. These are all different places and circumstances where death can occur, but they ultimately lead back to the same thing: the grief experienced by those left behind.
Through “A Moment of Mourning,” I wanted to show grief as something deeply personal, but also something that can connect us. No matter who we are, loss is something that we can all understand.
About the Artist: Olivia Magnusson
I am a Sunshine Coast-based artist currently completing a Bachelor of Visual Arts in Brisbane.
My creative practice is mainly focused on visual and fine art, with oil painting as my primary medium. I am particularly drawn
to figurative painting and the way the human form can be used alongside symbolism to tell stories and explore ideas. I take a lot of inspiration from Classical, Baroque, Pre-Raphaelite and Academic art, while trying to bring elements of these traditions into a more contemporary setting.
Creating “Penthos” allowed me to experiment with mixed media and explore the different ways people experience and express grief. I was interested in how different cultures have their own traditions and ways of mourning, while the emotions behind loss can be something we all understand. Through the work, I wanted to capture the overwhelming and sometimes complicated feelings that come with grief and loss.
Instagram: @oaremn