An illustration of mine in the Summer 2021 issue of Metropolis.

I was asked to create an illustration based on the Japanese proverb 明日の事を言えば鬼が笑う, translated literally as “Speak of tomorrow and the ogre laughs.” The English equivalent would be “No one knows what the future holds.”

The Japanese version is decidedly negative in my mind, as it refers to the folly of humans and the impermanence of life. The English equivalent, on the other hand, can be read in a more more positive way; endless possibilities, transformation, etc.

I opted to juxtapose these interpretations by using imagery and symbols found in golden age Dutch paintings, particularly vanitas style still life paintings.