Adding to the original proverb of the Three Wise Monkeys, to do no evil is to stop yourself from giving into your ego and unwise impulses which only leads to unhappiness and regret. The ramifications of our actions can be irreversible and this new tenet of the cautionary maxim serves as a warning to be mindful of what we put into motion.

In this acrylic on canvas portrait, the Wise Woman looks at us with an introspective gaze as her colourful arms protectively wrap around her. It seems as if her arms are restraining her from doing something that she knows she will regret later on. As we peer into her eyes, we seem to be challenged by her ability to restrain herself and to also confront the base impulses that have been the cause of our past misdeeds. The Wise Woman through her soulful stare asks us: when the time comes, will we be able to hold ourselves back and do the right thing?