Essential nature

Shadows aren't a presence but an absence of light. Plato's cave allegory uses the metaphor of light to represent knowledge and truth - people trapped in a cave only see shadows, mistaking them for reality. When they emerge into the sunlight, they gradually perceive the true nature of things. What if this same principle applies to our nature as human beings?

I believe people are, for the majority, trying to do what they believe to be right. But our concepts of right and wrong sometimes become warped by our own shadows - those dark spaces created by fear, hurt, sadness, loss, and grief. What if what we might call "evil" or "wrong" behaviour isn't a fundamental quality but rather actions stemming from unhealed wounds or fears?  In a metaphorical sense, I suggest an underlying unity or fundamental nature to all things, with "darkness" representing a kind of forgetting or separation from this essential nature.

Following the notion that everything originates from a single source (in this case, light) speaks to a fundamental unity in the universe. It suggests that seemingly disparate things are actually interconnected and share a common origin. What if we extend this metaphor further and consider our desires or dreams as the light in this equation?

Could our deepest aspirations be more than just personal wants? Perhaps they are signposts pointing us toward our authentic nature or potential - inner promptings trying to illuminate something we've forgotten about ourselves.

SIZE: A4

MEDIUM: Oil on Canvas

FINISHING:  Framed.  A hand-made Kiaat frame that connects your art piece with the timeless beauty of wood. 

(Kiaat frame worth R 700)