Underwater

Anastasiia Lodde

Painting - Acrylic on Canvas

100 x 80 x 4 cm

Last year, I created an entire series of works on the theme "Living in Colour." Let me tell you a bit about the collection. The first painting features a fish in the center of an underwater city. This fish is riding a bicycle. The fish is a metaphor—it represents me, my friends, and fellow expats. It’s a fish that moved from its freshwater lake to salty sea water. It’s learning to ride a bicycle (which is no easy feat for a fish), and because of the water's density, its movements have slowed down, making it less agile and maneuverable (reflecting the new life conditions and rules in a different country). But as our movements slowed down, we had the time to look around, to see the world around us—bright, colorful houses (which symbolize our mental home), what values attract us, who we really are. These reflections lead the fish to questions of happiness.