We are proud to present the fifth and final series in artist Kit-Ling Tjon Pian Gi’s The Myth of El Dorado project, this time centered around the butterfly. Like the previous series – which highlighted the hummingbird, jaguar, crocodilian, and owl – this collection consists of nine paintings (30 x 30 cm), now featuring stunning, colorful butterflies. The accompanying blog post adds yet another dimension to the project.
In 2014, Kit-Ling created the series Memories of the Past are like Butterflies, where two key aspects of butterflies took center stage: their fleeting lifespan and their delicate beauty. In her recent research, the Aztec goddess Itzpapalotl deepened her perspective on the butterfly. Often translated as the Obsidian Butterfly, this goddess symbolizes the eternal cycle of birth, life, and death. The butterfly’s metamorphosis and life cycle mirror the essence of this deity.
Kit-Ling adds a personal touch to the series’ colorful paintings using antique buttons and imitation gemstones from her family’s former shop. Originally, Kit-Ling had planned to use them for a new series exploring her Chinese heritage. But once she began working on the butterfly collection, she changed her mind—they fit perfectly here. Memories of the past are like butterflies.
In The Myth of El Dorado, Kit-Ling explores the inner strength and richness of the region Suriname belongs to, using the ancient legend of El Dorado’s gold as a starting point. She embarked on a quest to uncover the true gold of El Dorado – could it be “the wisdom of Indigenous peoples of South and Central America regarding the connection between animals and humans?” Studying their heritage, particularly their visual symbolism, guided her choice of the five featured animals. The butterfly series marks the conclusion of this project, but Kit-Ling’s journey continues: “My exploration of this region is far from over. In fact, it has only just begun.”
This breathtaking new butterfly series will be exhibited (and available for purchase) at Readytex Art Gallery from March 29 to May 3, Monday to Friday (8:00 AM – 4:30 PM) and Saturday (8:30 AM – 1:30 PM). You and your guests are warmly invited!
The Readytex Art Gallery Team
Curious to learn more? Dive into Kit-Ling’s fascinating blog posts:
The Myth of El Dorado: Butterfly
The Myth of El Dorado
The Myth of El Dorado – In search of another gold
Readytex Art Gallery presenteert slotstuk van ‘The Myth of El Dorado’
Vijfde en laatste serie uit The Myth of El Dorado – Sun Nieuws
Kit-Ling Tjon Pian Gi 