Emilie Krestianto

Theme: My Organ, My Companion

High Distinction, Open Category, 2023

Artist statement:

In this illustration, a newly transplanted heart is portrayed as a rocket ship which will transport the girl to space. Space represents the idea of achieving something impossible, something that could not have been done previously, but is made possible with a newly transplanted heart organ.

The interior of this rocket ship depicts the chambers of the heart. The top right corner tube shows the pulmonary vein, with red blood cells flowing from the left atrium into the left ventricle and continues to the main red tube which is the aorta. The girl is sitting on the left ventricle chamber because it is the chamber which pumps blood to all body parts, supplying it with oxygen. Since this side of the heart carries oxygenated blood, the red blood cells flowing through it are made more vibrant. To add on, this section of the rocket ship adopts red shades to indicate the left chambers of the heart. Meanwhile on the other side, most of the tubes and chambers are tinted with shades of blue, along with an opening in the ceiling where red blood cells flow from the vena cava to the right atrium, then right ventricle and through the pulmonary artery which split two ways to enter the lungs.

Through this idea, I want to show how the heart is a beating engine which accompanies us in reaching incredible milestones much like how the girl is safe and enjoying her journey in her newly transplanted Rocket of Life to reach exciting possibilities.

About the Artist

Emilie Krestianto, 19