My piece draws on the parable of Lysistrata, where a battle of the sexes unfolds to replace war with peace. Multiple images of an ancient Roman female torso, modeled after Greek statues, overlap to represent the central group of women in the story. Their rigid, stone arms gradually transform into human limbs, with expressive hand gestures symbolizing their actions—resisting, rebuking, and ultimately triumphing. The primary torso is adorned with a lock, like armor, symbolizing the women’s refusal to engage in sex with their male partners. The figures are set against a backdrop of water, a symbol of peace, meant to engulf and extinguish the flames representing the fiery, war-driven men.
On a broader level, this piece reflects the power of women as agents of change, resonating with the current social and political climate, where the fight to reclaim women’s rights and move toward restoration is ever pressing.