Description

This portrait of a crying child is my first oil painting – and at the same time, one of my most personal works.

The inspiration came from a photo I stumbled upon online: a little boy on the verge of tears. The expression on his face struck me deeply – I got goosebumps. I knew immediately: I wanted to capture this moment in my art.

I often find myself thinking about the darker sides of our world. Topics like racism, war, poverty, death, and climate change weigh heavily on my mind. I didn’t know the child’s specific story – and yet, I felt sadness, helplessness, and, in a way, even guilt. I started imagining all the possible reasons behind his tears.

A few days later, I sat down and started painting.
The title See World is inspired by the song of the same name by J. Cole. It reflects the quiet message I see in the child’s eyes:
“Hey world – we have serious problems here. Why is no one helping?”

The pink-hued sky and the tornado forming behind the boy were inspired by Frank Ocean’s song Pink + White. In the lyrics, the protagonist describes the destructive force of a hurricane – a reference to real-life events like Hurricane Katrina. The storm becomes a symbol for the feeling of losing control, no matter how hard one tries. To me, this reflects the reality of so many people around the world: those who try to do good or simply live – yet constantly face injustice, hardship, and despair. And that’s precisely why we must look. And care. And act.

This work is a call for empathy – for awareness, for action.
Let’s try to make a positive impact on this world.

Technical Information

Technique: Oil on paper

Art style: Realism, figurative art, portrait

Size (H x W, in cm): 30 x 42 (A3)

Painting time: About 55 hours

Date of completion: 21. June 2019