Comme ci-dessus Comme ci-dessous

"Comme ci-dessus Comme ci-dessous," meaning "as above, so below" in French, presents a contemporary interpretation of Mother Mary. Ilunga drew inspiration from her mother, who served as her muse and instilled in her a love for creativity. Nathalie Ilunga, Ilunga's mother, moved to South Africa a year before Ilunga's birth and became deeply involved in the refugee crisis. She adopted several children from various African countries, providing solace and illumination to many in need. The woman's emotional expression in the painting evokes a sense of depth, hope, and subtle sorrow, while the metaphor is self-evident.

All the figures hovering around her in the abyss seem weightless and merge seamlessly into the vortex created by the heart held in the figure's right hand. The artwork implies that the woman is willing to offer up her own heart to breathe life into all the floating figures, or that the flow of energy is mutual. In either case, life and love reign supreme, governing all living creatures in this piece.