Family History, 2024
Zyrah Edwards (b. 2007)
Acrylic on canvas
The play that inspired this artwork was “The Piano Lesson” written by August Wilson. This play resonates with me because it offers a realistic perspective on how people engage with their history, especially with the symbolic conflict over the piano, which represents the struggling with honoring the past and seeking progress. This artwork symbolizes the balance between wanting to preserve history and wanting to move forward.
At first glance, you would assume the girls in the painting are twins but that is not the case. I decided to depict two girls to symbolize the internal and external conflict of being torn between the family debate of trying to sell the family piano. The mother wants her daughter to carry on her family heirlooms and values, while her uncle argues that selling the piano will allow him to buy land back in Missippi, which can benefit the family. While trying to understand both sides, she is also trying to understand her place in the family history, which is a challenge given her youth.
When making this painting, I intentionally avoided using bright colors, as the play is set in Pittsburgh 1936, and I wanted to evoke an old timey feel. I used many light colors to give small detail to my painting especially in the tree. I chose to make the carvings in the piano lighter to make it stand out, which also represents their family history. Through this work, I intend to convey the feeling of wanting to preserve history while also wanting to progress from it. This piece questions what would you do if you were in the same situation.
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