Above the Nose completed

Above the Nose 

The complex interplay of societal forces during a time marked by the pandemic, the events of January 6th, and the symbolic "virus of the mind." The canvas serves as a visual allegory, depicting a poignant struggle between individuals seeking to uphold democratic principles and those engaged in tearing apart the fabric of democracy. Some figures represent the defenders of democratic values. Their sewing and intertwined hands symbolize a collective effort to stitch together the delicate tapestry of democracy. Contrastingly, dispersed across the canvas, other figures emerge as agents of chaos and disarray. Their actions, depicted through tearing motions and fragmented symbols, These individuals, caught in a maelstrom of misinformation and radical ideologies, embody the forces that threaten to erode the foundations of democracy. Their disjointed appearances show a dehumanization of themselves as they devolve into online conspiracy theories and hate. 

The central theme of the artwork is encapsulated in a visual representation of the quote from "A Man for All Seasons." signifying the choices society faces when navigating the delicate balance between law and chaos. The pandemic is woven into the fabric of the artwork through symbolic elements. Masks worn by some figures serve as a reminder of the challenges faced during this time, and composition suggests that the "virus of the mind" can be as insidious as any biological threat, spreading through misinformation and jeopardizing society. The pandemic was used to divide people into simplistic camps over a paper mask worn above the nose or not. 

What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then?

Yes, I'd give the Devil the benefit of the law, for my own safety's sake!”

― Robert Bolt