The Eternal Guardians

by Olena Zhukova

Two barn owls perch alertly on a base of skulls, surrounded by a warm, golden-beige glow breaking through the darkness. Whilst the skulls lie on the ground as silent witnesses to past deaths and suffering, the birds stand in the light – alive, alert and dignified. The painterly texture combines expressive, loose brushstrokes in the background with the striking presence of the figures. This work was created during a stay in a psychiatric clinic and explores the experience of inner deaths – moments when a part of oneself dies. The skulls symbolise the traces of these difficult phases, whilst the owls stand as timeless guardians over what has happened. The painting captures an endless cycle: even if the guardians eventually depart, new ones will follow to preserve the past. A motif of enormous psychological depth that transforms pain into a sublime, mystical form.
Painted with acrylics on paper in portrait format. A powerful work of art for lovers of dark romanticism, vanitas symbolism, the mysticism of nature and profound psychological art. It adds an intense, contemplative touch to living or working spaces and harmonises particularly well with dark wood, warm earth tones and expressive interiors.