Resting In The Fields Of Gold

The traditional Kerosene Lamps are objects that I have always found fascinating. It’s such a perfect representation of life being a continuous cycle of birth, death and rebirth to me. When lit, it would represent the light and warmth that is life and otherwise when unlit. Lit again, the lamps would represent continuity as well as rebirth.

Having painted such lamps before in my other pieces, I wanted this one to have a sort of self-reflective feel to it. Kept unlit resting against wild thatch leaves, I wish to convey a moment to understand that life is constant and ever moving, that time and activities would always continue to shift, always changing. Yet, despite this never stopping flow of space and duration, one must sometimes stop to rest and appreciate this present moment, to disconnect yet in a paradoxical sense still feel connected to life in order to stay relevant with it. I hope this would encourage in sequence the rise to awareness, self-doubt, confusion, reflection based on memory, resolution, understanding, confidence and finally to new found awareness from the process.

The kerosene lamps weathered from use each with its own characteristics symbolizes how life’s experiences would shape everyone differently thus making every life unique and precious.

The other subject of interest is the dragonfly. From the egg to its nymph stage and finally to its adulthood, it would undergo changes as it matures from the water (egg stage) to the sky (adult stage). It would be a symbol of transformation in the perspective of self-realization: change so drastic, it forces one to draw into the mental and emotional aspect in order to reap a greater understanding to the meaning of one’s life.

Yet, despite the seriousness in describing my “Resting in the fields of Gold”. It’s really to encourage a self-reminder to have more quiet moments as I personally believe that this can help reconnect the inner self with life, bringing rest, lightness of heart and joy for the spirit to flourish.

* Accepted for 28th IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) Juried Exhibition 2016

* FAV15%  in the May 2016 BoldBrush Painting competition

* Finalist Winner of "Favorite Subjects" competition,  International Artist magazine  Dec 2016/Jan 2017/ Issue 112