Love or Money

Perhaps what first caught my eye in this artwork is the obvious symmetry in the piece. Allison Shelby’s Love or Money is a painting on wood that depicts two twinning mermaids. Eyes closed with matching gold eyeliner, the two figures’s heads and bodies are each turned away from the other, their matching shapes are emphasized by the geometric-like heart cut of the wood that frames them. The colors, forms, and poses of the two mermaids are very similar, the only main differences being the shells and the sea stars covering each figure’s chest and the conflicting symbols emerging from either ones’ lips. The mermaid on the right of the painting faces a dollar sign, while the opposite mermaid faces a heart. The title and the placing of the symbols suggests to viewers a choice to consider between love and money, however, the connection of the figures’ hands implies there might not be a division or conflict between the two subjects. Even though each figure has her back turned to the other, their hands remain intertwined and surrounded by mystical gold spots. This and the use of thick lines and bright color give the whole piece a positive and almost whimsical feel to it.