✨04 GAO JIAYI ✨

I see a woman with a solemn expression on her face.

There is a monkey and cat on her shoulders and insects above her.

There are yellow and green leaves in the background

The woman is bleeding from the thorn necklace with a hummingbird hanging on it.

The painting depicts her wearing a thorn necklace, which symbolizes the anguish and suffering she endured throughout her life.

The solemn expression on her face suggests that she is patiently enduring the pain. 

I wonder why the animals on the woman's shoulders are specifically a cat and a monkey and what it symbolizes.

I wonder why the artist chose to have the theme of nature for this self portrait.