120×80 cm
oil on canvas
„Matthew was a joy and an inspiration to all who knew him. His God-fearing soul inspired, influenced, and blessed everyone who knew him. He came into this world as a miracle and left this world as a miracle. He was born with severe disabilities on September 23, 1988, in Salt Lake City. At birth, Matthew's life expectancy was estimated to be only a matter of hours, but strength of spirit and perseverance, combined with the power of God, worked miracles. Matthew lived for ten and a half years. His family had the privilege of spending time with him on earth, learning from his courage and marveling at their little boy's joy and happiness amidst many struggles. His presence inspired all who knew him. He opened their hearts and their eyes as well,” his parents said.
In 2000, for Matthew's grave, his father, Ernest Robinson, and his cousin, Susan Comish, created a statue of Matthew. This unique monument depicts the young boy jumping out of his wheelchair and flying healed toward Heaven, now free from earthly burdens. The gravestone stands in the Salt Lake City Cemetery. Its story and form of depiction captivated me so much that I couldn't shake the thought and feeling for months. I had never seen death depicted with such hope before, so I decided to paint it.
I just understood what the feeling of „bittersweet” means.