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A Mermaid’s Grief

A Mermaid’s Grief is a thesis project by Adeola Adekola that explores the five stages of grief through a narrative visual series. Using a combination of drawing and graphic design, the artist creates story-driven illustrations centered on a mermaid protagonist who becomes a vessel for emotional transformation. Inspired by the expressive intensity of Edvard Munch and the empathetic sensitivity of Käthe Kollwitz, Adekola visualizes grief, betrayal, and resilience without prescribing a fixed interpretation. Each stage of grief is represented through a set of five illustrations, created digitally in Procreate on 8.5" × 11" and 17" × 22" canvases, inviting viewers to engage with their own emotional readings of the work.

-Adeola Adekola

Five framed illustrations depicting mermaids representing denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Two framed illustrations of cartoon mermaids, one labeled "ANGER" and the other "BARGAINING," showcasing exaggerated expressions under the sea.