this became one of the most heartbreaking paintings for me, both while creating it and when looking at it. the war and the devastation, helplessness, and exhaustion it leaves behind. even observing the positions and presence of the figures burns my heart with a profound sadness. this is the reality we are living through right now, and perhaps what we must truly allow ourselves to feel. pain is real, and every color carries its own meaning. none of us are truly different from one another. oppression is one of humanity’s cruelest inventions.