Portrait of Cupid

Katelyn Parker, 2014

Portrait of Cupid

For my final body of work for my degree I am putting together a series of artworks to describe how the original meanings of the myth of Cupid and Psyche have been eroded over the centuries.

The series begins by attempting to connect the viewer to the original content of the myth, but in a contemporary context.  

The original myth contains much that even now a contemporary audience can relate to through their own lived experience.  The myth follows the path of the relationship between Cupid and Psyche, beginning with the insane jealousy of Venus which brings the two protangonists together to begin with.  Jealous of Psyche's inhumanly impossible beauty Venus seeks to destroy her.  To little avail though as the weapon she sends to carry out the destruction ends up hopelessly attracted to her.  Psyche ends up being betrayed by her own father, keen to appease the Gods, and banished to live alone.  Cupid visits on the condition that she never attempt to learn his identity.  On learning of this her jealous sisters encourage her to expose his real identity.  

Exposed, Cupid flees and the long journey to being reunited and eventually marry as equals continues.  

The image above is from the first thread of the series and attempts to reconnect the viewer with the ancient and classical roots of Cupid and Psyche.

Figure stock is from the public domain and was retrieved from Wikimedia Commons
Textures by NinjaRabbit-Stock