The Light That Has Lighted the World — Rachael Songey

The Light That Has Lighted the World

My painting series, The Light That Has Lighted the World, is named after and based on the song by George Harrison. Whenever I’m feeling down, I’ve always had a ritual of shutting myself in my mom's closet, turning on Harrison, and looking through my family photos. The old childhood photos I would sift through reminded me of a time when I saw the world with so much hope and optimism. Harrison’s song always perfectly encapsulated my desire to find the “light” or hope through my old photos. I wanted to find a way to illustrate that feeling through my own paintings. My idea was to create a series of four paintings that showcase what I believe to be “The Light That Has Lighted the World”, the innocence and innate goodness we find in children.

Rachael Songey, Jessie, mixed media, 24 in x 24 in, 2025.

Rachael Songey, The Way We Were, mixed media, 36 in x 24 in, 2025.

Rachael Songey, Mayonaise, mixed media, 24 in x 30 in, 2025.

Rachael Songey, Some Things Last a Long Time, mixed media, 30 in x 40 in, 2025.

The first piece is a painting of white rabbits as a physical representation of the “light”. The following three paintings illustrate how the “light” is passed down generationally on my maternal side (paintings of my grandma, my mom, and myself). In each piece, the beautiful world within the minds of children is visually displayed through childlike drawings over the paintings. The paintings are individually titled after songs. The first piece is titled Jessie after the song by Paw. The second painting is titled The Way We Were based on the cover by Gladys Knight and the Pips. The third piece is titled Mayonaise after the Smashing Pumpkins song. Lastly, the fourth painting is titled Some Things Last a Long Time after the song by Daniel Johnston. All the music comes together to create a playlist to listen to while viewing the series. Each song corresponds with the paintings’ individual meaning, enhancing the feeling of nostalgia.

With all my Love

Character Illustrations