Untitled 

This untitled work by Mihai Olos is a sculpture made of thorny branches held together by string. Thorns, found across cultures, serve as a potent symbol of protection and suffering, guarding what is precious while inflicting pain. Consider the Crown of Thorns in Christian iconography, a symbol of Christ's suffering, and the thorny thickets surrounding Sleeping Beauty's castle, protecting her slumber. In each case, the thorn symbolizes a painful barrier, a trial to be overcome, and a sacred boundary not to be crossed. Here, Olos uses this motif in a way that evokes complex emotions. The thorns may represent psychological barriers, defense mechanisms we erect around ourselves, or the pain inherent in the human condition. As viewers, we are drawn to the raw, primal nature of these thorns, recognizing their dual capacity to wound and to protect. The cyclical nature of suffering and resilience plays out before us, a poignant reminder of the human spirit's enduring capacity to endure.