ARTIST STATEMENT
Echoes of Liberty reimagines the Statue of Liberty from an unexpected perspective—her back turned to the viewer, facing a desolate, cracked desert. Composed of meticulously arranged shredded currency embedded in acrylic and resin, the piece speaks to the fragility of freedom in a time when ideals are tested, and silence can be complicit. Rather than the familiar, hopeful gaze, this version of Liberty is retreating or reflecting, perhaps both. Her form—constructed from deconstructed money—forces the viewer to confront the uneasy relationship between capital and liberty. Is she leaving us behind? Has she turned her back out of disappointment, disillusionment, or exhaustion? The fractured surface surrounding her evokes scorched earth, symbolizing the aftermath of unchecked power, war, and censorship. The desert is not just a place—it is a metaphor for what remains when rights are stripped, voices silenced, and resistance punished. By choosing to represent liberty not as a beacon, but as a weathered figure moving away from us, the piece challenges the viewer to take responsibility. It asks us to consider: What happens when freedom no longer faces us? What remains when the symbols we rely on begin to fade? Echoes of Liberty is not just an image—it is a quiet cry for awareness, a textured reminder that resistance can take many forms, even in silence. It is a meditation on memory, value, and the personal cost of enduring political decay.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born in Romania in May 1971, Doina-Mihaela is a self-taught artist with a lifelong passion for painting and drawing. During her early years in Romania, she worked in the cartoon industry, where she developed her artistic skills and creative vision. This period was followed by her mastery of the Galle technique, a highly intricate method of painting on glass, as a painter and decorator. This experience instilled in Doina meticulous attention to detail and a deep appreciation for complex artistic processes.
In 2004, Doina-Mihaela emigrated to the United States with her close family, bringing her rich cultural heritage and artistic expertise to a new environment. Settling in Illinois, Doina has participated in numerous group exhibits across the state.
© Doina Mihaela Iacob