Falling for Chess

If you feel like falling your whole life. Again and again falling into even darker places, you need something totally out of the ordinary to focus on. To grow on. Something that keeps your mind busy and out of the dark.
This is the beauty about the ‘Queens Gambit'.

Little Beth's life already starts miserable. She learns about loss and loneliness very early and is in survive mode since she can remember. The orphanage is just another level of misery... but she finds something there, in the dusty basement - a friend and a passion. A passion so pure, that it consumes her mind.
During the story she becomes addicted to drugs and alcohol - alongside chess. She thinks she needs to be high to play the perfect game. Throughout the series we watch her falling again and again. We watch her using, watch her losing loved people. Again and again. But there is one savior in her life. The one thing that pulls her out of the dark - Chess.

In my painting I wanted to highlight exactly this. How chess becomes the light in her life. After loosing so much. After going through addictions and being in so many dark places, it is she herself who is her savior.

Beth became something like an Idol to me. All the darkness in her young life made her bulletproof. Her strength only made her stronger. I think there is barely anything that could break her anymore. I am thankful for this movie piece of art with its strong visuals – just like paintings – and perfectly chosen music.

Big painting that catches the eye in this extraordinary beautiful, heavy antique wooden frame… if it only could talk…

Acrylic on canvas 80x100cm
Year of creation 2022

What are you falling for❓