Relics, 2025

Plywood, egg yolk tempera, imitation gold leaf, oil paint, rusted metal objects.

In this project, relics take the form of objects from a house once belonging to previous generations of my family. These items are not only visually appealing, but also hold symbolic significance—memories tied to them preserve connections with our own past, with passed loved ones and shared experiences of previous generations. To paint these family relics, I use iconographic techniques. I work on primed wooden panels, using tempera made from egg yolk and pigments inherited from my great-granduncle. Most of relics’ backgrounds are covered with imitation gold leaf, while others are painted with oil. The use of iconography and gilding imbues the relics with a sense of sacredness, emphasising the value of memory, while the rusted, timeworn objects exhibited alongside them reflect the fragility of remembrance and our delicate bond with the past.