In this series I let my dreams and my imagination create images on their own. Upon finishing the first two pieces I realized that the work is filled with symbolism and is similar to the work of German expressionists in spirit. As the German artist Herwarth Walden said “Expressionist art is not an impression from outside but an expression from inside.” I also incorporated ideas from the work of the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy, into these paintings.
My artwork is not a literary interpretation of Nietzsche’s work – it is interpretation of my understanding of it. What I took from The Birth of Tragedy is the idea of dualism between a rational world and order, and a world of chaos and ecstasy. I interpreted it in my work as a dualism and a battle between decisions; either to surrender to the wild dreams, or to supress them.
In this regard, the theme of “Dreams Art” is, in a suprising way, close to the exploration of the idea of temptation in my earlier work. “Dreams Art” is in essence a visual interpretation of the battle between temptation and a rational thought. The inner battle of the mind.
Out of curiosity I picked up the book The Complete Encyclopedia of Signs & Symbols, by O’Connell and Airey. I discovered the possible hidden meaning of my Dreams Art. I looked at interpretation of the most common elements in my “Dreams” paintings. Here is a brief list of some of the symbols explained:
Fire is associated with creativity, destruction, and imagination. Is a masculine symbol of creation, destruction, purification, revelation, transformation, regeneration and spiritual or sexual ardor. A bonfire can have many associations and meanings: a place of the imagination; the primordial hearth fire; or a place of transformation where effigies may be burnt, or where rites of passage are performed.
The Edge. Whenever we are confronted by the unknown, or something that disturbs our view of the world, then we are at an edge. Edge symbols are common in mythology, folklore, and dreams…. The cliff edge has connotations of fear and doom, but is simultaneously a symbol of abandon and exhilaration. Seen from the sea, cliff can be a symbol of hope for the returning traveler and strength against enemies, but they are also places of suicide…. As a metaphor, death can symbolize a dead end, or a loss of joy or hope, but can also mean a transformation, or transition to a new level in life.
The horse symbolizes life-giving but dangerous forces, as well as power and strength. An ancient animal symbol, the horse is linked to sun and sky gods. It represents the elemental power of wind, storm, fire, waves and running water. Death is shown riding a black horse, while the white horse is a symbol of light, life and spiritual illumination.
Waives in the ocean symbolize the movement of life from its most gentle to its most stormy aspects.
