Wither 

Sarah Joncas created "Wither," an evocative painting, with an emphasis on symmetry and subdued colors. The central focus is a face, composed with a nearly perfect bilateral symmetry, where each feature echoes its counterpart on the opposite side. This balance is disrupted only by the asymmetrical placement of delicate branches that crawl along the face, suggesting both adornment and decay. The pale lavender skin tone provides a stark contrast to the vibrant red lips, drawing our eyes immediately to this focal point of expression. These colors, combined with the olive-green eyes, create a delicate palette that feels both unsettling and harmonious. The smooth texture of the skin juxtaposed with the sharp, wiry lines of the branches creates a visual tension. Joncas's work challenges the viewer to consider the complex relationship between beauty and decay, life and death. The formal elements suggest a semiotic interplay, where the face, a symbol of vitality, is being encroached upon by the withered branches, symbolizing decline. This piece presents a liminal space, destabilizing our conventional understanding of beauty.