The Virgin
2023
150 x 200 cm
Acrylic and pen ink on canvas

There goes a Javanese superstition; if you were to place a virgin maiden's underwear on the roof, it could prevent rain. Though the specifics of the superstition, which is primarily passed down through word of mouth may vary from from family to family or person to person, this version had stuck in the mind of the artist for it is the one they grew up with and had been made a part of. Inspired by said superstition's belief, The Virgin brings up some culture's fixation on the image of purity with an ironically lighthearted visual.

When the figure quells the rain and brings in the sunshine with their "proof" of chastity, so do they quell the public, form visually almost indistinguishable from the clouds. The figure dresses modestly in long sleeves and a full-length skirt, and yet, their underwear visibly hinges around their ankle in a promiscuous manner. The exposure to the viewers is meant to address the voyeuristic nature of virginity superstitions such as this, and the inherent judgment that comes with.

(Description may be subject to change.)