HUNTER VS. THE LION KING (2024)

In this painting, Winner adds a personal touch to the subjects’ typical gestures and draws inspiration from David, the shepherd in the Bible, and from one of the comic strips he created. Through a body of work fueled by his relationship with communication, he aims to capture the audience’s attention so that they focus on the message conveyed by this painting. His intention for this work was to present to the audience his visual interpretation of African folktales. When we look at the two subjects, we notice the use of chiaroscuro and distinctive gestures rendered as traces of energetic brushstrokes, evoking a sense of unease and terror not only in the bodies of the Hunter and the Lion King but also in the surrounding greenery. Furthermore, the use of multiple colors creates greater contrast, as if they (the Lion King and the Hunter) were actually in a space where their presence is felt (shadows, light, etc.). What we realize is that the battlefield is not primarily the one depicted in the painting; the lion’s wounds indicate that the fight had been taking place long before this final outcome. As a result, this work also aims to encourage the audience to reflect on this scene, to create a story in their minds, and so on.