Two Torches
My third and final piece represents the duality between optimism and pessimism. A recurring theme in my life has always been the gray zone between good and bad, moral and immoral, friend and foe. I personally believe that people are all products of their environments, including myself, who has learned about the dangers of blind optimism and blind pessimism. My experiences and environments have taught me that life can be both cruel and gentle at the same time, so therefore I recognize how multifaceted everything around me is.
This theme of duality also appears in the final chapter of Pablo’s story. After surviving the fall and eventually making it to the utopian city of mars, he brings with him the lessons he learned from his old world, and welcomes new lessons in this new world. As he steps forward, he retains the electric energy of his childhood and the softness of his emotional adolescence with pride.
The canvas is 36x48, painted with acrylic, as well as acrylic on collaged canvas paper