Minerva’s Wisdom by Kharen Tacmo
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Mixed Media Oil Painting
Dimensions: 80 x 80 cm
Year: 2023
Price: $2200.00 USD
Status: available
"Minerva’s Wisdom" emerged from a moment of introspection, a desire to explore the profound connection between intuition and transformation. The owl, a timeless symbol of wisdom, perches gently, guiding us through the mysteries of the night. Her presence whispers secrets of the universe, inviting us to journey inward and embrace our inner knowing. The colors in this piece dance between the ethereal blues and deep purples of a twilight forest, creating a dreamlike atmosphere where reality and imagination blur. The woman’s gaze is both serene and inquisitive, embodying vulnerability and strength. She holds a lotus, a symbol of rebirth and purity, suggesting a continuous cycle of growth and renewal. In creating this work, I wanted to evoke a sense of calm and curiosity. I layered soft textures to mirror the complexity of our inner landscapes, encouraging viewers to pause and reflect. My hope is that "Minerva’s Wisdom" inspires you to trust your intuition, to find solace in the unknown, and to embrace the beauty of transformation.
Why collect this work?
The owl overlaps the sitter’s cheek and shoulder so closely that symbol and portrait become a single compact arrangement. Wisdom, named by the title, appears here not as distant instruction but as something carried alongside the body.
- Tacmo states that her practice pairs women and animals to explore intuition, vulnerability and strength. In this work, that concern is expressed through physical proximity rather than a depicted action or narrative.
- The sitter’s raised fingers interrupt her frontal pose, while pale flowers echo across her shoulder and beside her face. Warm flesh tones concentrate attention on her gaze amid the photograph’s cooler, forest-like surround.
- The catalogue identifies mixed media and oil, a combination that can accommodate varied kinds of mark and coverage. Here, sharply described eyes and features coexist visually with streaked, softened passages, though the photograph cannot establish surface texture or process.
- The painting provides a focused case for considering how contemporary portraiture turns familiar symbols into bodily relationships. The owl, flowers and figure matter less as separate emblems than through their compressed placement around the face.
About the Artist
Kharen Tacmo
Kharen Tacmo is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Ras Al Khaimah, AE.
Nationality: Filipino
My work explores human emotion through symbolic portrayals of women and animals, blending abstract realism with intuitive expression.
