Curatorial Reading

Part of the prestigious 2015 series executed on velvety matte black Plike paper, “Lion Walk I” (2015) explores the heraldic archetype of the lion through mixed media on paper (20 × 30 in (51 × 76 cm)). The reflective brilliance of 24-karat gold leaf contrasts dramatically against the deep obsidian ground, evoking ancient Persian, Hittite, and Anatolian stone bas-reliefs.

Arpa reduces the beast to sharp, calligraphic incisions and rhythmic gold geometries. The work vibrates with solar energy, embodying the noble guardian archetype that has protected sacred thresholds across Mesopotamian and Mediterranean civilizations for millennia.