Artist Statement

In this graphic titled The Refugee, I wanted to express the sadness I feel for the plight of refugees currently fleeing Syria. The Syrian crisis had been stewing in my head for weeks and the images were upsetting me. I was about to go to sleep one night, but when I closed my eyes this image of a boy and a teddy bear popped into my head. I thought of the child, the refugee child, losing his innocence because of the su ering in Syria. He left his innocence behind with that teddy bear. He will never be the same again. As an artist, I strongly believe in this statement by Matisse– it perfectly summarises the artist’s role. In the last year and a half, I developed a new style called Realismé to address, in a serious way, issues that have a ected me and my core beliefs. I understand the plight of refugees. I know they do not want to ee their homeland and the lives they have built but, because of dire circumstances, they have no other choice – they must risk their lives to survive. They must leave their homes and come to a strange and inhospitable country. If they do not, they will su er and risk death. — Anthony Foronda