Inspired by Japanese tattoo culture and bohemian art, Dragon’s Breath captures the exhale that follows the trials of life after loss. This artwork draws upon emotions similar to those in the artist’s debut collection, Epokaliss, touching on the layered experiences of grief.

Dragon’s Breath is a powerful self-portrait, showing the artist with hollow eyes and tear ducts worn from sorrow. The flowing composition mirrors the waves of grief that ebb and flow, while the disembodied head symbolises moments of dissociation. Created during a transitional period in RAFiott’s style, Dragon’s Breath is one of the few pieces reinterpreted in a more organic aesthetic, offering a unique view into the artist’s evolving approach. During this period, a number of recent artworks were updated as studies to reflect RAFiott’s new, more fluid and organic style, capturing a fresh vision of their themes.

RAFiott’s love for Art Nouveau also shines through in this piece, with sweeping lines and delicate shading inspired by la belle époque. In the lower right corner of the figure’s bust, the subject’s inner form is revealed as vaulted archways, alluding to Malta’s historic buildings — structures full of character and potential, yet often overlooked. Both versions of Dragon’s Breath are available in the RAFiott Shop.