祖爾·瑪拉里

This work is in good condition overall, as is the canvas, which is clear and sound. There is light wear and handling around the edges of the painting. Examination under ultraviolet light reveals no evidence of restoration. Unframed, on a stretcher.
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A Sword of a Thousand Truths takes its title from a role-playing game. However, unlike the warring characters in video games such as World of Warcraft, its central figure appears momentarily suspended in the act of unleashing a force. She appears frozen amidst the dramatic, slowly collapsing scene. Resembling an image from a fantasy story book or a screen capture from a video game, the narrative is layered with symbols and meanings. 

The artist Joy Mallari fuses the idea of destruction with hope in this particular surrealistic scene. Shards of crystal juxtaposed with flaring flames and broken Ionic columns together suggest a battle environment. The peaceful background of blue sky and green grass, however, is incongruous with the impending havoc. The protagonist, taking the central position, is the heroine, and a deliberate reference to Joan of Arc. The crystalline horse, caught in mid action, is about to cross over to the next station, yet impeded by the very material that it is made of. There is so much commotion and energy on the top half of the painting, while the bottom half is taken up by a static chained wooden carriage. Upon closer scrutiny reveals it to be a book secured by nautical chains. Closely guarded, it contains knowledge of utmost importance. Sheets of paper take the form of an accordion, unfolding behind the characters.

An air of transition permeates the work as the characters are suspended at the crossroads of civilization and decay. This halfway place is emphasized by the symmetrical placement of opposing elements within the picture plane: coolness and warmth, crystal and fire, stillness and motion, ruins and the new world.  

The heroine remains imperturbable and vibrant. Momentarily distracted, she bestows a stoic glance upon her viewers while she wields her sword to fight the turmoil. For Joy Mallari, the heroine represents a messenger and a guardian of stories. Without directly illustrating but alluding to the following episode, the viewer imagines the young girl to pry open the chained book as a liberator of narratives. Here, the artist is referring to the stereotypical images that have occupied women history. Wielding this sword of liberation, the heroine shatters the myth with an aim to reveal truth. Like the figure the artist painted, Mallari strives to empower women, freeing them from the shackles of the past. A Sword of a Thousand Truths  thus speaks boldly to this resolute courage.