Held Breath

This large-scale contemporary artwork explores stillness amid chaos. A seated figure meditates calmly in the foreground, while flames devour a distant building — a contrast that evokes resilience in destruction. The smoke rises into a quiet sky, symbolizing the tension between inner peace and external collapse.

Balancing silence and fire, the piece becomes a poetic metaphor for strength during crisis, echoing the reality of war in Ukraine. The meditating figure can be seen as silent protest or a guardian of identity — a reflection on the human spirit’s endurance.

Painted with Dutch Amsterdam acrylics on Italian cotton canvas from Unico, finished with satin varnish. Edges are painted for frame-free display. Part of the ongoing Life in Avatar series. Includes certificate of authenticity.