Monarch 2019

Here we see James Jean conjuring a dreamscape filled with potent symbols. Dominating the scene are figures adorned with a tiger mask and butterfly wings, set against a backdrop of lush flora. The tiger, revered across cultures from the East to ancient Greece, embodies power and protection. Consider its presence in heraldry or myth, each instance echoing a primal force, a guardian spirit. Yet, here, the mask suggests transformation, a shifting of identity. Butterfly wings—a motif of metamorphosis—appear on both figures, drawing parallels with depictions of Psyche, the Greek goddess whose name means “soul” and is often symbolized by the butterfly. This interplay between predator and fragile beauty invokes a powerful sense of becoming, an alchemical dance of transformation. The viewer is drawn into a subconscious realm where nature and identity meld, a testament to the enduring power of symbols to evoke profound emotional states. Like the cyclical rebirth found in nature, the symbols here promise a future of renewal.