On Top Of The World 2008

Kehinde Wiley created this painting, "On Top Of The World," employing oil on canvas. The raised fist, a symbol of defiance and solidarity, immediately captures our attention, harking back to ancient victory salutes, and echoing through revolutionary movements across the ages. This gesture isn't isolated. The birds in the background, while decorative, evoke the universal longing for freedom, a motif we find as far back as ancient Egyptian soul birds. Notice how the decorative birds find their echo in the birds printed on the shirt. It’s as if the subconscious echoes of the collective memory emerge to the surface, intertwining personal identity with historical consciousness. The painting encapsulates the psychological power of symbols, engaging viewers in a dialogue between past and present, struggle, and hope. This visual language persists, constantly reshaped by new cultural contexts, yet forever tethered to its origins.