Encounter Series
Encounter is a story about healing and connection after loss. It’s also a tribute to my grandmother, who always said, “Everything happens for a reason,” and a celebration of space and science.
The first painting, Encounter, captures the chaos after a plane crash. Amidst the wreckage, Roka the monkey watches from the bushes while Dear the pilot fights for survival. At first, this scene looks like pure disaster, but it actually sets the stage for their first encounter. What seems like a terrible event becomes the start of something new—not just for the characters, but also for their introduction to the audience.
The second painting, Mission Hope, shows the wrecked plane being put back together and attached to a rocket, preparing for launch into space. This moment feels like a farewell ceremony. The plane, which will never fly again, is now about to begin an endless journey. A line from Shakespeare’s Hamlet—“infinite space”—is included, symbolizing the transition from something limited to something boundless. The rocket’s launch represents letting go of the past and looking toward the future with hope. Dear looks tense and frozen, while Roka appears cheerful and optimistic, highlighting how they respond to the same event in completely different ways. The James Webb Telescope in the painting serves as a window into both our past and the endless possibilities of the future.
