All Hens On Deck! Art Installation
Explore the vibrant collaboration between Chichi Curaçao Artists, Thea Parthenos, and Serena Israel in the “All Hens On Deck!” installation. This colorful display showcases 34 uniquely painted ducks encircling a central XL Chichi, symbolizing creativity and community spirit.
Concept and Inspiration:
Serena Israel invited Chichi Artists to paint ducks in their unique styles, anchored by Thea Parthenos’ dreamy “Head in the Clouds” Chichi. This installation melds diverse artistic voices into a whimsical, rubber ducky-themed artwork.
Chichi® symbolizes the nurturing and protective nature of the big sister, a role mirrored in the animal kingdom by the female duck, or hen. Hens are known for their strong maternal instincts, leading their ducklings to safety, providing food, and shielding them from danger. Similarly, big sisters guide, support, and protect their younger siblings, offering advice, emotional support, and taking on responsibilities to ensure their well-being.
This Artwork celebrates these parallel protective instincts, underscoring the importance of nurturing and care in both human and animal families. Through “All Hens on Deck,” we honor the bonds and responsibilities that unite us, showcasing the vibrant creativity and community spirit of Curacao’s artists.
Participating Artists:
Suzanne Adelina, Aithel Antonius, Shuduena Bodkin, Jade Calvenhoven, Danique Chundro, Nicole Dookie, Claudina Fransina (Zusje), Tania Garzón, Joyceline Gijsbertha, Milange Gijsbertha, Marely Girigori, Edmaly Girigori, Colinda Groenendijk, Joan Hoelen Bentura, Nailey Inees, Claudette Koster, Vianella Koenraad, Dayenne Juan Pedro, Mervinia Lomp, Thahely Macaria, Raquel Maduro, Natasha van Langeveld, Myrna Mathilda, Solaika Rosal, Niermalu Robert (Anita), Yolanda Rijke, Shulaika Petronilia, Lisset Placencio, Laura Marcela, Erclameeny Pietersz, Junaizy Velder Polonius, Yoja Terborg, Suliëne Volk-Wawoe, and Jarson Wu.
About Thea Parthenos:
Thea Parthenos, a Berlin-based artist, infuses her work with the Vaporwave aesthetic, blending past and future styles without constraints. Her collaboration with Serena’s Art Factory captures her journey’s surreal, ever-changing mood. Read more about Thea Parthenos.
Head in the Clouds:
The unconventional design of the “Head in the Clouds”-Chichi captures the unconventional thinking of Thea. To challenge herself she choose a particular difficult 
medium to create the featherlight appearance of the Chichi. Since the two component color dries in just minutes and is not made to be faded, the colors had be layered over the span of many days to create the now visible deepness. The trust that Serena placed in her to allow her to implement this idea is a testament to their relationship with each other.
The clouds are a repeating motif in Theas art installations, beckon the viewer into a dreamlike journey through art and imagination. Clouds, ever-changing and ephemeral, mirror the human experience of constant transformation and the fleeting nature of our existence. They represent the fluidity and impermanence of life. The clouds, with their ever-changing forms and moods, enveloping the human form serve as a powerful metaphor for this dual nature. The delicate, pastel hues evoke serenity and grace, while the deeper, more turbulent sections suggest hidden turmoil and potential for upheaval. The contrast between these elements invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences of balance and conflict, serenity and storm. Clouds are both protectors and potential threats, symbols of life-giving rain and harbingers of destructive storms. The artist’s choice is prompting us to consider our relationship with the natural world.
The front of the sculpture features a face adorned with a black heart, contrasting sharply with the softness of the surrounding clouds. The Face-cut-out also breaks with the traditional Chichi-approaches in the factory. Highlighting once again a breach in the sculpture itself.
This juxtaposition adds a layer of mystery and depth, suggesting a complex interplay between human emotions and the natural world. The black heart on the face can be interpreted in various ways. It may symbolize the hidden depths of the human soul, the emotional complexities that lie beneath our outward appearance. Alternatively, it could represent the contrast between the ethereal purity of the clouds and the darker, more enigmatic aspects of our psyche.
The partially visible, never fully seen butterfly wings on the figurine convey the impression of butterflies fluttering across the viewer’s face as they gaze into the sky. They appear fleetingly in the field of vision, only to vanish again. A loose promise of a better future.
