Madame Cocoon

The piece 'Madame Cocoon' is based on the opera Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini.

Seen through the perspective of Butterfly the protagonist. The painting expresses conflict between her heart and her mind and how this conflict has suspended her in a 'cocoon'; frozen her in time.

Not being able to move on from her past which her mind is fixated on; expressed as a metaphorical caterpillar of her younger self shown in the ponds reflection.

Whilst her heart looks to the future and earns for connection, unity and to be her self ; expresses by the butterflies flying out of her heart to the butterflies in the sky and the butterfly mandala skyline.

As her fixation on her dishonest and poor communication relationship leads her isolated and alone (the direct opposite of what her heart wants) Madame Butterfly is cocooned.

In the story madame butterfly ends up killing herself; expresses by butterfly drawing power from the bleeding tree. The path over the bridge she sees as her only open option; suicide.

The reflected moon, lantern and moon represents Madame Butterflies spirit, transcendent of time (past, present and future), her heart and mind.

The piece serves as a reminder of the importance of awareness of the heart and mind and how conflict can lead to pain and suffering. The importance of honesty, communication and connection. To be present in the present we must solve conflicts of our minds and hearts, the past and the future.