‘Stall Love’ is the latest painting collection by Kitty Ritig, a talented and exciting voice in the contemporary art scene in Sri Lanka. ‘Stall Love’ is a beautiful painting collection of celebration of love, affection and a sense of belonging.
As a female artist, Kitty’s work is deeply personal and universally resonant. Through her art, she always captures the warmth and tenderness of human connection, exploring the many ways in which we form deep bonds with others and find meaning in our relationships. Each of her works is a testament to the power of human connection and the ways in which it shapes our lives, reminding us of the beauty and joy that can be found in simple moments of togetherness.
For years, Kitty has been drawing a curled-up human figure, which she has described as representing the innermost self of her subjects that yearns for comfort, safety and security. When asked about her inspiration for these striking images, Kitty said that the figures are a reflection of her own inner world.
“I’ve always been someone who’s very introspective,” she said. “I think a lot about my own feelings and emotions, and I wanted to create art that spoke to that part of myself. It is based on observations of how social mechanisms shape one’s thoughts and behaviour towards commitment, intimacy and passion,” she said.
For Kitty, the curled-up position represents a state of ease and peace, a moment of relaxation and comfort that is often hard to come by in our fast-paced, hyper-connected world. “When I depict these figures curled up, I’m imagining them at their most comfortable,” she said. “I’m imagining them in a place where they feel safe and at ease, where they can let their guard down and just be themselves.”
Despite their simple appearance, Kitty’s curled-up figures are rich with meaning and nuance. Each one is a unique representation of the human experience, capturing the complexity and beauty of the inner world that we all share.
With her skillful use of colour, form, and texture, Kitty brings these emotions to life on various surfaces such as canvas, glass and postcard inviting viewers to experience the profound sense of connection that her paintings evoke.
“In my painting red symbolises a compulsory collection of human emotions which is compulsory in the universe my art exists. Also, it reveals the hunger for human connection, feelings of belonging, despair and reconciliation. These emotions shape our behaviors in the physical world as well as in the cyber world. The red thread that you often see in my paintings symbolises the connection of two creatures who belong to two different worlds. The connection is not ideal but it’s way better than losing the person altogether,” she said.
Kitty’s work has been celebrated by its audiences for years and her paintings have been exhibited in galleries, however, mostly in cafes and social-media platforms. “I feel so isolated, not knowing where to belong. I am a full-time artist who keep creating lifelong and sometimes it’s essential to share a piece of work in the form of an exhibition or performance. I go for the best possible situation available to me.
It may be a gallery or sometimes it may be a stand by the road. Wherever it is I’m glad I was accepted and I was able to share my work with the rest of the creatures in the world who might feel the same way I did once,” she said.
Kitty continues to create new works of art; she remains committed to exploring the depths of human experience and sharing her vision with the world. Whether depicting a couple in a loving embrace, or a lonely mermaid entangled in a red code all over her body, or a curled-up creature drowned under someone’s skin, her art speaks to the universal human experience of seeking love, comfort and belonging.