Paradise Lost, Anush Babayan, Ht: 24″ 

Description

Anush Babayan’s Paradise Lost opens itself to interpretations both biblical in nature and others deeply rooted in the artist’s own personal experience. Here two guardian angels seem to symbolize a balance between divine protection, spiritual grasping and the quest of the human soul. A stylized tree stands on both left and right, representing both solidity and the cycle of life, while the golden hues of the sun radiate optimism and resilience.

Set to the backdrop of colors ranging from green to blue, indigo and violet, it evokes both the biblical theme of the loss of Paradise and the feelings associated with leaving a period of childhood happiness and innocence behind.

As Anush explains, the painting is also direct reflects feelings from her personal life: “Paradise Lost reflects my experiences, thoughts and feelings after the loss of my parents. My ancestral home had a vineyard, and looking back, my childhood, adolescence and early life seem like a golden era. Nostalgia for my parents’ home, the warmth of their love and advice, and the overall joy and happiness shared by my large family while I was growing up are all reflected in this painting. In broader philosophical terms, the painting goes to the notion of Paradise in the universal sense, where Adam and Eve originally lived.”