FENGHUANG

This piece was first inspired by my friend's drawing of a phoenix rising, which interpreted her battle with depression and anxiety. It made me reiterate the thought that there's a lot going on behind the scenes that we might not be aware of right away. So I wanted to create this character to represent a strong female rising up from her darkness to empower others. Researching more about phoenixes, I discovered the Fenghuang in Chinese culture. They are mythological birds found in East Asian mythology seen as a sign of world peace. It is also a symbol of high virtue and grace, as well as the union of yin (femininity) and yang (masculinity). Her arm has a cherry blossoms tree tattoo to represent feminine dominance. On her hand is the Chinese character for virtue. And on her neck is a lotus mandala tattoo with the yin and yang symbol to embody the aspire to live in balance and harmony. Lastly, the glowing eyes indicate the powerful energy within her as it radiates off her body.