Original artwork description:

The Matriarch, 50 x 70 cm, collage and acrylic on canvas, 2024

First of all, please excuse me for the poor quality of the photo. I tried 200 times, in vain.

The Matriarch came to my mind after watching a documentary on Arte, entitled "When females have the power". In this fascinating report, we learn that some animal species are governed by matriarchy, that is to say that it is the females who dominate and decide. However, not all of them apply the same strategy. Among elephants, for example, the leader is the oldest in the group and therefore the one with the most experience. The other members follow her without violence or domination, with confidence. On the hyenas' side, it's domination, aggressiveness and oppression on the program: the alpha female eats first, repels and banishes mutinies and is even given a "pseudo-penis", that is to say a large external clitoris, which makes mating without consent difficult...

So I used for this painting images taken from a Lion King book, where we find these two animal species. My Matriarch is in a low angle, dominant, with a crown of flowers on her head which represents her power, however exercised with gentleness (since they are flowers).

Support: canvas on frame found in Colmar
Paper: Lion King book bought in a recycling center

The canvas is varnished and equipped with a hanging system.

Materials used:

Paper and Acrylic on canvas

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