Persephone: Queen of the Underworld, Goddess of Spring

Artist Statement:

Persephone was the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, the goddess of harvest and fertility. She was also called Kore which means Maiden.

She was a beautiful young girl who attracted the attention of many gods. Demeter was obsessively protective of her, keeping all the suitors away from her daughter. Hades, the god of the underworld, was the most determined of them. He fell in love with the young innocent girl, and asked Demeter to marry her daughter, but she refused the offer.

Hades was heart broken and decided to get the girl no matter what. One day when Persephone was playing in a flowery meadow, she was seized by Hades and made his bride in the underworld. She also got betrayed by her father Zeus who gave his consent to the act.

Demeter desperately searched for her daughter with the help of Hecate. Demeter got furious learning about Zeus' betrayal, and refused to let the earth fruit until Persephone returned.

Zeus trying to solve the problem, promised Demeter that Persephone will return if it's proven that she is really against her will in the underworld. Hades learned about this deal and he tricked Persephone by giving her pomegranate fruit to eat. It was the food of the underworld, and eating from it, it made Persephone choose to stay with Hades.

To please Demeter, Zeus made a decision: Persephone spent half the year with her mother / hence, Spring -Summer/, and the other half with her husband / hence, autumn - winter.

Dimensions: Approx. 380mm (h) x 300mm (w) x 300mm (d)

Year: 2025

Medium: Mixed media sculpture - Japanese stone clay, mohair, silk, garnet gemstones, Japanese Kozo paper, acrylics