Symbolism & Iconography in Art
Explore your emotions with the symbolic meanings in contemporary artwork. Learn how to identify the signs of your core self to inspire emotional growth.
ARCHIVES
The Hole in the Sky
I kept seeing the above image in my head and tried to find it online. Despite knowing it was likely one of Brooke Shaden’s, I couldn’t seem to find it until the other day. It must’ve been the luck of the new moon. Brooke Shaden is well-known in her field and has produced some of the most familiar surrealist photographs in the last decade.
Too Many Thoughts
The artwork above was created by Blixxa, who I know nothing about. Although I know Blixxa has collaborated with Mrs White in the past, he was active artistically (on Facebook and DeviantArt, at least) between late 2014 and 2020. Some of the artwork has a slightly apocalyptic feel, and most of it is dark. I find this unpretentious image of a
Birdcages and the Freedom of Thought
Patty Maher is a fine art and wedding photographer based in Caledon, Ontario, Canada. Maher began her journey with photography as recently as 2010 and has since achieved international recognition for her work. The faces of her models are frequently obscured to retain an open-ended narrative so the viewer can
Art as Therapy: A philosopher’s perspective
Mooching for philosophy podcasts, I came across one by Alain de Botton. In the past, I’ve had little patience for much of what he says since I heard him talk about how money was unimportant and didn’t matter. There was he, all-wise and knowing it all, whilst sitting on an inheritance
She Always Finds Me
A well-dressed man stands on a piece of broken eggshell. In front of him, a newly-hatched giant white egg dominates the scene; tentacles rise upwards from inside the egg. The viewer is left with no doubt they belong to something monstrous and more powerful than the man.
Fold or Play?
Fold or play. That’s what he said to me. At that moment, I hadn’t realised I was even supposed to be playing. I couldn’t recall where I sat down and agreed to be dealt a hand. I seem to be in a perpetual state of aimlessness. Knowing some artists are more reliable at providing insight than others,
Grief & Preservation of Love Lost
At first glance, this image made me think of how relationships can be a double-edged sword providing both security and a sense of suffocation. Some people, no matter how well-intentioned, simply suffocate the life out of others. They somehow rob their beloved of that vital life force needed to create,
Stains Don’t Always Come Out in the Wash
There were two reasons I was drawn to this image. The first was obvious; I liked the picture. The second was more of a kick in the belly from the cosmos, the ones that leave you wondering what the fuck you did to be taunted so mercilessly by life itself. I felt drawn to the title and the concept;
A Girl Called Melancholy
Cheeky Ingelosi, a.k.a Janelia Mould, is a talented self-taught conceptual photographer and digital artist from South Africa. When I first came across Janelia’s work, I felt no hesitation in my desire to explore her images more meaningfully. The pictures chosen for this post are a part of a series
Our Last Love Song
Although there was probably some transference in play, I felt like I'd been thumped when I first saw this picture. This image is harsh on my emotions; does the addition of the title help to nail its impact? I've loved many songs that speak of the impending doom of separation. But, how often
Bad Signs
Nothing in this picture suggests anything of solid predictive value; it's a snapshot of where things are at in a moment. At face value, it all looks pretty hopeless. The telephone box is clearly a significant symbol of communication. Although in this case, we have solid indicators that the words,
Endings
Now and again, I come across an image slightly different from what usually draws my attention. It will usually represent a once familiar tune that no longer plays, but the memory of the dance it inspired will rattle through my body. Sometimes it creates discomfort, and at other times, joy.