“Mortal Man – Part 1” is inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s song “Mortal Man” in which at the end of the song Kendrick reads a poem to the late Tupac Shakur. In this poem, a butterfly represents change and transformation as the caterpillar represents someone young, or trapped in a situation and environment, attempting to get out.

From the poem, Kendrick writes, “The caterpillar is a prisoner to the streets that conceived it. Its only job is to eat or consume everything around it.”

Kendrick continues by saying, “the caterpillar beings to notice ways to survive. One thing it noticed is how much the world shuns him, but praises the butterfly. The butterfly represents the talent, the thoughtfulness and the beauty within the caterpillar. But having a harsh outlook on life, the caterpillar sees the butterfly as weak.” At the end of the poem, Kendrick shares ways in which the caterpillar can grow and emerge from its environment (cocoon) – thus making wings of the butterfly emerge.

“Although the butterfly and caterpillar are completely different, they are one and the same.”

Relief print on paper

22 X 30"

Edition of 15