Daphne

In the myth of Apollo and Daphne, Daphne's metamorphosis into a tree (portrayed in the wood/bark material that this mosaic is constructed of) is not of romance; her transformation is a desperate act of self-preservation in the face of unwanted desire, her only apparent "sin" lying in her beauty. Even as a laurel, she remains tethered to Apollo as a wreath, her subjugation under this man thus immortalized. “Daphne” is a commentary on one of the many societal burdens placed upon many female victims of harrasment. Her beauty, a natural gift, becomes the catalyst for her suffering. The wood, a symbol of her refuge, becomes a constant reminder of the price she paid for her freedom. The paper veil billowing over Daphne's face represents the suffocating cloak of Apollo's unwanted love, embodying the nearly bridal attachment to Apollo that Daphne is now forced to take on.Through the juxtaposition of Daphne's face, the veil, and the fragmented medium utilized, I seek to challenge the romanticized narrative of the myth and provide symbolic and societal insight into the core of the story.