Embedded Files
Artist: Pahwa Yang
The Two of Cups prioritizes growth, unity, and the value of connection. Despite the seemingly endless opportunities, reliable and supportive resources, and valuable education at St. Kate’s, we must realize that the foundation of our development starts with community. Our success begins with the classmates we shared a book with during The Reflective Woman course, with the professor we bonded with over writing, and the friends we endured late nights, hard times, and foolish mistakes with. The Two of Cups is a reminder of the power and strength that is rooted in deep connection with the people around us. And even if we assume the opposite, the Two of Cups is present to refresh our memories with the notion that a community will always be there for us. In short, education may have been the seed that set us off, but much more than that, maybe the real education was the friends and relationships we made along the way.
IMAGERY
I first chose to include perspective by having the viewer look up at two robot seniors who have not yet graduated and who also appear to be growing from the ground up, hence the tree roots and vines. I wanted this perspective to seem like one from a first-year college student, a freshman who has not yet experienced the growth that college offers. By incorporating this imagery, the viewer is able to visualize the admirable growth of other, more experienced students. This is also why I decided to make the students robots. I wanted them to appear advanced beyond their years, into a different universe, which is what college seems to do for some. Although they haven’t graduated yet, they still carry the knowledge and values that St. Kate’s has expressed to them throughout the years. I implemented a galaxy in the background to signify the idea of being in a different universe or mindset by the time a student reaches their senior year of college. The stars in the galaxy are purple, signifying the endless possibilities of education that St. Kate’s offers.
Additionally, one of the focal points of the card is the big sun behind the two students. This symbolizes the light that St. Kate’s paves for us. Next are the red books and the big purple spark. I traded the two cups for books because I think they better represent how students at St. Kate’s are united. We come together because we all have a mission: education. By sharing our education, we’re also unintentionally creating unity among each other, which is why the big purple spark exists. It showcases the strong bonds that education itself sets for us. Lastly is the landscape within the negative space. It symbolizes new beginnings and a fresh start that we will carry our newfound relationships into.
MOST IMPORTANT SYMBOLS
Regarding the most important symbols, the tree trunk and the spark between the books best represent the message in the Two of Cups. This card is about unity, strength, and personal growth. I believe the tree trunk and spark perfectly embody how these values work together to create strong and intellectual individuals and everlasting bonds between people.
RESEARCH PROCESS
Like the Two of Pentacles, I barely used outside resources for inspiration on these cards. However, I did browse the internet for concept pictures that helped me draw from the perspective that appears on the card. Additionally, I took some inspiration for my “historical background” explanation of the tree symbology from my first-year course, The Reflective Woman. I will not be sourcing a specific author or website because all the literature I read contained some aspect of the “welcoming the dear neighbor” morale. I see it as a lesson that The Reflective Woman has taught me.
REFLECTION OF ST. KATE'S COMMUNITY
The images within the card reflect the belief that when we fight together, we grow together. In addition, St. Kate’s primary value is welcoming the dear neighbor, which comes from the original Sisters of Saint Joseph who believed that when we look beyond what we see, we begin to deconstruct systemic issues and instead begin to build a new society where unity truly exists. Another reason behind how these decisions reflect on St. Kate’s values is that this image directly shows how exercising our rights, like we do at St. Kate’s, really does put us on top of the world. It gives us a platform with which we can use to spread good within the world and create more unity and understanding.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The Reflective Woman Class Reference
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