“A FALL FROM GRACE”

Written By Kiana Ware

BOURNE SINNERS, VOL. 4

- This painting has been pre-appraised and is currently for sale.

Date of creation: 11/2025 - 03/2026

Size: 30 x 40” original

Medium/Materials: Acrylic, Oil, Spray Paint | Level III Gallery Wrapped Canvas, Gloss Varnish

The Series:

Inspired by Sinners, and this collection explores the places our sins can take us. An ode to the power and poise of unity in black and brown culture, Vi strives to transmute generational trauma through healing expression in art.

Volume Four:

Starting in AAPI month of 2025, the artist wished to create a piece which focused on the intersection between black and Asian culture within the movie. In Ryan Coogler’s Sinners (2025), the Chinese Mississippi Delta story follows the fictional Chow family—Grace (Li Jun Li) and Bo (Yao)—who operate grocery stores in 1930s Clarksdale, navigating the racial, social, and supernatural dangers of the Jim Crow South. Based on real history, they act as intermediaries between Black and white communities.

Being that she was an artist in the film Sinners, I really felt the need to highlight the club juke sign in the painting. Channeling the warrior spirit of many samurai and soldiers such as Mulan, this inclusion of the Asian presence in the Deep South was both a history lesson and an inspiring sight to see.

Bourne Sinners Collection
“TOUCH ME NOT”
“TOUCH ME NOT”

This piece is titled ““Touch Me Not”Capturing the essence of Sammie’s return to the alter, the still shot gave me chills and reminded me of a time when I too found myself at the foot of the pastor.

“LADY IN RED”
“LADY IN RED”

Throughout history ladies in red have been depicted in cinema as entertainers, disrupting the peace with their beauty, their talent, and their presence. An ode to the blues of black culture, Vi strives to transmute generational trauma through healing expression in art.

“THE PEOPLE’S FEAST”
“THE PEOPLE’S FEAST”

This piece is titled “The People’s Feast” 🍽️ Capturing the essence of Michael B. Jordan’s alter ego “Stack”, the Yoruba twin deity is revered as a divine entity representing balance, happiness, and spiritual strength. Stack’s role seemed to provide the lively balance to Smoke’s buttoned up demeanor. I thought it very necessary to use an image of him smiling layered on a background of chaos…

The Inspiration:

This piece served as both a reflection on the ways Asian Americans have shaped American history - and a tribute to my ancestors and relatives that are still serving as a bridge. While this painting was originally inspired by Sinners the research and process to creating this was deeply personal to my becoming.

Seeing a blasian cinematographer depict an Asian artist on screen who incites the climatic battle at the conclusion of the film was very moving. The grace of the character and the spirit of her grandiose tenacity was the main inspiration for this composition.

Kiana Ware
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“IDLE HANDS, IDLE MIND”