'6.6.2021. - Death of my aunt Marijana' 2021

Alfred Freddy Krupa created ‘6.6.2021 - Death of my aunt Marijana’ in ink on paper, a medium aligned with his dedication to traditional Asian ink painting and Sumi-e. The starkness of the image, with its ghostly figure emerging from the white background, reflects the immediate aftermath of a personal loss. Grief, an emotion so often experienced yet so rarely depicted with such raw intensity, fills the frame. Krupa, born in the former Yugoslavia, weaves his personal narrative into the larger human experience of loss and remembrance. The skeletal, almost hollow depiction of a human figure speaks to the universality of death, transcending gender, race, and class. It references not a specific body, but the shared vulnerability of human existence. The work confronts us with the reality of mortality and the emotional weight of familial bonds. In its stark simplicity, it resonates with the deep, often unspoken emotions tied to death, reminding us of our own connections and the inevitable losses we face.