Summer 1991. Waiting for the great spider 1991

"Summer 1991. Waiting for the great spider" was created with watercolor by Alfred Freddy Krupa, a Croatian artist, in 1991. The socio-political environment of the former Yugoslavia, marked by growing ethnic tensions and war, profoundly shaped Krupa's artistic perspective. Here, the artist paints himself as the subject, nude save for shoes, a snake, and a hat, and trapped in a web with a giant spider. The image is a potent exploration of identity, vulnerability, and threat. The male figure, in a state of undress, challenges traditional representations of masculinity, presenting it instead in a moment of captivity. The snake coiled around the figure and the looming spider evoke themes of danger and entrapment, reflecting perhaps the artist’s feelings of helplessness amidst the turmoil in his homeland. The artist has said that it expresses the idea of being caught in a trap, waiting for an inevitable, destructive force. Krupa's work serves as a powerful reflection on the emotional and psychological impact of historical events, highlighting the personal dimensions of broader societal conflicts.