Description

Carlos Quinto Kemm’s Joan of Arc is a visually striking and intricate mixed-media collage that portrays the French heroine in a surreal and symbolic manner. The central figure, Joan of Arc, is depicted with a serene yet solemn expression, her face stylized in a classical or Renaissance-inspired manner. Her body appears fragmented, wrapped in chains, and engulfed in flames, symbolizing her trial and execution by burning at the stake. Collared around her neck is a Mayan poisoner yoke adorned with animal heads spewing water to quell the surrounding flames, creating a striking contrast between destruction and salvation. Her palms bear stigmata, but instead of wounds, human eyeballs stare directly at the viewer, evoking an eerie sense of omniscience and divine judgment.

Fire dominates the lower portion of the artwork, consuming the scene with swirling infernos that contain figures and battle imagery, emphasizing both the chaos of war and the violence of her fate. Above Joan’s head, an ornate, cosmic-like circular structure appears, resembling a celestial halo or an astrological wheel, suggesting divine destiny or enlightenment. The background is filled with angelic figures, clouds, and otherworldly imagery, reinforcing her spiritual transcendence and eventual sainthood. The piece employs surrealism and collage techniques, blending various textures, materials, and historical imagery to create a layered, dreamlike composition.

This fusion of religious iconography, medieval aesthetics, and Mesoamerican elements makes Joan of Arc a compelling exploration of faith, sacrifice, and transcendence.