Sibyl is seen in profile, brightly lit as if on stage and seen in the round. She is encased in glass, surrounded by water and white flowers, becoming a blend of the portrait, still life and vanitas. The black edges of the glass coffin-like frame serve to heighten this sense of precarity and memorial, where Sibyl occupies and is reduced to, the role of framed artwork. The water that surrounds her alludes to the death of Ophelia and in turn her own, whilst the white flowers laid around her, are symbolic of purity.

Ki Yoong’s work is figurative and takes inspiration from literary and poetic, art historical and the diverse real people around him to express ideas about identity, diversity and representation through attributes including gender, sexuality, race, nationality and heritage.

The wood panel is painted with oils and occupies an open glass frame filled with water, containing in one corner white bell-shaped flowers mounted in three small florist’s pin holders.

Ki Yoong is an artist and illustrator based in London, UK. He studied Fine Art at The University of Leeds and completed MFA in Fine Art at Central St Martins. He has had several international exhibitions and for three years has been Artist-in-Residence at Copermill Primary School, Walthamstow. He has collaborated with a variety of brands including Vogue, Alex Eagle, Paul Smith and The House of Barnabas.