Bathed in a stained glass-like colour palette, Aurora Santika breathes life into her pieces through the age-old vessel of storytelling. From a young age, Aurora was captivated by the tints of Tiffany glass and the geometry of kaleidoscopes —objects that, to her, seemed to whisper entire narratives through light and colour. Just as stained glass windows once conveyed wisdom and parables to the illiterate, Aurora’s oeuvre is steeped in storytelling, capturing entire chronicles within a single, dynamic scene. Through rich metaphors and potent symbolism, she delves into the complexities of human relationships and personal struggles, transforming lived experiences into visual poetry. Her densely layered imagery, infused with a touch of fantasy, create worlds that blur the line between reality and interpretation.

In one of her prominent pieces, “Queen of the Hearts”, Aurora juxtaposes light and shadow to give Queen of Hearts a delicate tenderness amidst a foreground of her unhinged brutality, revealing the nuances that underlie a tale meant for children. Behind her, Alice peers through the glass wall, flanked by the Cheshire Cat and stalks of lilies of the valley––a sweetly-scented spring plant that symbolises innocence and humility but also poisonous in nature. In this quiet detail lies a subtle truth: that innocence, untampered by maturity, can wound as much as it delights.

Aurora’s works are a trove of nuance and emotion—woven with imagination, observation, and insight. Each work is a tapestry of meaning, a world unto itself, unmistakably and intimately her own.