Oil on linen canvas
2010
Throw the Lily Under the Couch depicts a sex worker of Chinese descent reclining confidently on an ultramarine blue couch, her posture casual yet commanding. With her legs resting across the couch and chair, her figure is illuminated by a sharp, stage-like spotlight. Her breast, pressed against her bra, bearing a tattoo of a monkey above her left side, adding a layer of defiance. Beneath the couch lies a white lily, forgotten and discarded, a subtle yet potent symbol of societal expectations.
She is absorbed in her phone, entirely uninterested in the scrutiny or judgment of others. Her stance embodies a rejection of imposed norms, reclaiming her sexuality on her terms. The ultramarine blue of the couch, traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary in Catholic iconography, evokes a stark contrast between religious ideals of purity and her unapologetic presence.
The lily under the couch, though dismissed, remains visible—an acknowledgment that societal standards, though rejected, persist as an underlying influence. This painting challenges viewers to confront societal hypocrisies and expectations, celebrating the autonomy and resilience of a figure who defies conventions while navigating the inescapable intersections of tradition and individuality.
Joan Marie Kelly