The new artwork, “Flight in Refuge,” is a profound representation of the duality between protection and fragility, a visual metaphor that transcends the simple image of a butterfly. The central figure, with its vibrant wings and details marked by time, symbolizes the struggle to preserve one’s essence in the face of adversity and the scars that life imposes.
Every aspect of the painting is laden with meaning. The larger wings, still vibrant with lively colors, speak of resilience, the ability to face storms and yet find the beauty in flying. In contrast, the smaller and more muted wings reveal the marks of internal battles and the parts of oneself that have been lost along the way. It is a tribute to what has been left behind, but still lives in the memory of each trace and color.
The yellow outline, enveloping the butterfly like a golden armor, expresses a complex duality. While it protects and connects the figure to its deepest essence, it also isolates, creating a barrier that prevents genuine connections with other beings. It is a necessary defense to preserve integrity, but one that paradoxically distances it from more meaningful bonds.
The work reflects the constant quest to maintain authenticity, even after so many losses and challenges. The title, “Flight in Refuge,” perfectly encapsulates this complexity. The flight, often seen as a symbol of freedom, here takes on a heavier connotation: it is a conscious but restricted movement, where refuge becomes not just a place of protection, but a condition of existence.
In essence, “Flight in Refuge” is a painting that does not settle for merely being seen; it demands to be felt. The artwork challenges the viewer to look beyond the obvious, offering a visual testimony to the tension between protection and isolation, fear and hope. Each detail invites reflection on the armors we build to survive and on what, in the process, we end up hiding from ourselves and others.
The poem “Duality,” which accompanies this piece, captures in words what the brush expressed in colors:
Duality
Colors that time unveils,
Flying in a sky of uncertainty,
Between the brightness of day and the shadow of night,
Dancing between strength and beauty.
A golden armor,
That silently shouts its truth,
Protects the fragile wings,
But hides the weight of longing.
There, where the wind touches,
And the scars are revealed,
Each lost hue tells
Stories that are never shared.
It’s not fear that makes it fly,
But the desire to preserve,
To not let the world interfere,
With the essence that still strives to shine.
And so, between light and pain,
Its dance is an act of courage,
A flight in refuge,
An echo of freedom.
Márcia do Vales
