Through Ashes Rise

Artwork Info

• Year: 2013
• Medium: Photo Manipulation.
• Style: Epic Emotional Illustration.
• Size:  77×35 inches (197×89 cms).
• Model: Deposit Photos.

“Through Ashes Rise” is an epic emotional illustration created for the album of the same name by the band The Phoenix Project.

Artist’s statement

My guidelines to create this artwork on demand were the name of the band – The Phoenix Project – and the album title – Through ashes rise – alongisde how the theme of rebirth could intertwine with the concept of capitalist oppression. Lucky me, because mixing epic emotional art with political concerns is one of my passions.

The image shows a person covered in ashes and coal, in big distress, hidding their face after breaking down. The light from the inner magma is starting to show off throught the skin, creating a big contrast between black and golden hues. The chains of the system that are enslaving the character are starting to break showing the first taste of freedom. The surrounding city starts to burst into flames and the system is destroyed.

This epic emotional illustration is a bold statement for everyone who has ever thought that some of our emotional turmoil is caused by the capital and the inequalities it puts on the table (which is the fuel it needs to survive). It is a muted scream for freedom in the middle of a society that is destroying itself, even if we are not able to watch what is actually happening. An artwork that for sure will bring the conversation up to the table and transform any space into a bold emotional experience.