Upon first encounter, the viewer may be perplexed as to why this work is called “mother.”
The viewer can see a young Asian woman in the center of the work. It is surprising that she’s holding in her hand a squirrel. So initially, we have two mysteries to solve to fully appreciate the piece.
It is only after the viewer realizes that the blue cloud or shadow behind the young woman is the memory of the woman’s deceased mother that the painting takes on its full meaning.
One of the thematic elements in the painting that assists in its thematic interpretation is the many fallen autumn leaves, which suggest the passing of time and also, as part of the natural process, life must include death. The death that is relevant in this case is the passing away of the young lady’s mother. The many tumbling cubes on both sides of the painting represent fragment's of the woman's memory.
The reason she’s holding a squirrel is it is a symbol of what the artist wants to suggest about the situation envisioned. A squirrel will find and hide away nuts to allow it to survive a long, harsh, cold winter. Eventually, the squirrel must eat through its entire store of nuts in order to survive and make it to spring.
In a similar way, the young lady sustained by the memory of her mother must eventually step away from that memory to live in her own light in order to be a robust and mentally resilient individual. So this work was created to thematically suggest the process of gradually putting aside our most cherished memories in order to allow further emotional growth by being open to new experiences and relationships.
Eventually this were all must eat or dispose of the knots in order to survive and make it to spring. And in the same way, the young lady who has been sustained by the memory of her mother must eventually go away from that memory, live in our own light in order to be a strong, healthy individual. That's what this painting, this work was created to suggest.
