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PRAYING FOR AI-FEN (The Pandemic Series) 

Original__ 2020__ Oil on Canvas__ 9 in. x 12 in. (Unframed dimensions) * 

 

"This small oil painting of mine, along with my painting MODERNA, will show in Japan as part of the Japan Peace Exhibition.  I send it along with my heart to Nagasaki and the Japanese People.  I feel very honored as an American to have my work included in this important show to respect, to honor, and to remember ~ at this important event at a critical time such as this in World history.  

I am most humbled by this honor."   ~ Janai-Ami 

 

 

BACKGROUND  

PRAYING FOR AI-FEN  is one of many small works completed during the Pandemic of 2020.  [#1 and #2 of this series (Winter in Hubei and L'Histoire Cache, respectively, were more closely aligned with the floral works that I normally paint - but with viral capsules and crowns ("corona") added referencing the novel Coronavirus.]  

 

But then a well-known Los Angeles Art Critic walked over to me at a critique and 'explained to me' that my 'obscure references' to the Pandemic would never be recognized by anyone,  and if I was going to be commenting about societal and World events,  I needed to be more obvious about that.   So I dutifully added figures,  graphs, everything other than the actual words "THIS HERE IS A PANDEMIC!" ~ & off I went on a tangent - for a full year of my life -- until I couldn't take it any longer.  

 

While many of the works are important for their historic value, noting specific points/events along the Pandemic timeline,  painting them was emotionally draining and depressing.  During 2020, I found myself along with a small eclectic group of nerds tracking every single stat (did I say that I LOVE playing with numbers? -- probably not  - that sounds weird - -) - but that's what I was doing when I wasn't painting.  Running numbers and watching the percentages along a timeline, but I couldn't wait to get back into my 'comfort zone'  - my meditative artist state - that I go into when I'm painting what I love - -  back to the joy and beauty and passion that for me are the flowers.  Re-birth!  LIFE!!  That is when "ENTER CALM AND JOY,"  "ENTER PEACE" and  "THE SUN ALSO RISES"  - finally,  joyfully,  'wonder-full-y!' made their presence known.  

 

PRAYING FOR AI-FEN references the news out of China of the sudden disappearance of a woman physician. She was the Director of an Emergency Room at a major hospital in Wuhan and among the first to recognize ARDS in a group of patients coming in to the E.R. ill with a pneumonia-like viral syndrome.  She reported her findings & alerted the international medical community to the possibility of a novel coronavirus (nCV19).  And because of her courage, she likely saved millions of lives.  And then we heard nothing more from her or for that matter, about her.  It was strange.  She seemed to have disappeared.  And I wondered, did she became ill from the virus herself ?  And if so,  did she survive it?  What exactly happened to Ai-Fen?  

PROVENANCE: 

May 2020,  'Petite Works' Exhibition (online),  GALLERY 825,  The Los Angeles Art Association; and  

August 2022,  'THE 43rd JAPAN PEACE EXHIBITION,'  The Nagasaki Prefectural Art Museum,  Nagasaki JAPAN

*   Custom frame  *