Joshua Wong with the Heads of Mainland China (120 x 100 cm)

Medium 

Oil Paint on Canvas

This painting depicts the struggle of a movement in 2014 known as the Umbrella Movement, which sparked a crowd of thousands in Hong Kong to protest in the streets demanding the government for “true universal suffrage”, which meant a Hong Kong political autonomy that was free from the authoritative control of mainland China. It parodies Caravaggio’s David with the Head of Goliath by replacing David with Joshua Wong, a young leaders who instigated the movement, holding the heads of former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Leung Chun Ying and Chinese President Xi Jinping. The artwork itself uses realist shapes and naturally occurring shapes to depict a realistic portrayal of the struggle in the Umbrella Movement using elements of symbolism to represent a shift in power from mainland China still grasping for power in the fight against Joshua Wong and the people of Hong Kong. It uses warm, analogous and full colours to truly highlight the subjects of the painting and does so with a low-key black background that creates a spotlight for those at focus.