Душу й тіло ми положим за нашу свободу

作品賞析

Artist Hsu Meng-Han, who has long been concerned about international situations and war issues, named this work after the lyrics of the Ukrainian national anthem. In the painting, she uses greenery to symbolize the transcendence of death, and the sunflower, Ukraine’s national flower, to symbolize eternal glory. The girl in white on the left represents purity and sublimity. The compositional design, which leaves only her hands exposed, suggests that she can be anyone who defends democracy and a free people. The blue and yellow bow in the foreground echoes the colors of the Ukrainian flag, and the ribbons’ extension beyond the painting’s edges expresses the artist’s anti-war stance. Hsu Meng-Han used a layering technique to stack one acrylic paint layer after another on the canvas to create a clear-cut effect. When expressing her concern for the international community with her brushes, she avoids directly depicting the cruelty of war. Instead, she uses a poetic approach to create works full of emotion and power, conveying courage and hope.