This piece is inspired from a carving in the walls of the Kom Ombo temple, Egypt (Ptolemaic period). Lujan Perez has always been touched by about how the Egyptians represented love over the centuries. This hand in hand feels it reads more as a symbol of an embrace than the actual embrace, the impossible trickery/mirage is brilliant and incredibly contemporary.
Poison ivy engulfs the embrace. During the time Lujan was creating this piece, the studio and house where she lives in the US were starting to become surrounded by the fast growing ivy, which has only (unfortunately) thrived this summer. Ivy is an incredibly resilient plant, it can still cause poisoning even if the plant is dead (for up to five years), the conditions it needs to grow are extremely adaptable and they grow in many different forms (bush, vine, climbing vine, etc). 85% of people are allergic to it and the rash is very painful. Lujan chose this plant for this piece because its danger upon the general population reflects the political climate the majority of the world’s views and regulations (especially what she has witnessed in the US for the past 7 years) on one’s choice for who to love. Hand in hand, despite what its dangers can imply.