This painting is a great example of the idea that there may be no such thing as a truly abstract painting because as Picasso once said, “It is impossible for a painting to be about nothing”. At first glance it does indeed appear to be a simple abstract work, yet upon a bit of extended viewing and contemplation one can see that it also resembles a monolith. Though the term ‘monolith’ generally refers to enormous stone structures such as those found at ancient Neolithic ceremonial sites like Stonehenge, the term ‘monolithic’ is also used to characterize large organizations of all types that have become so monstrous and firmly established as to seem utterly implacable. It can also be used to characterize aspects of the psyche. What’s interesting about this monolith is that the outer layer is being stripped away in what appears to be a somewhat organized and methodical way at its base, upper middle and very top levels of its structure. It is becoming more transparent.

When a symbol such as this emerges spontaneously in a work of art, it is no different than if it had emerged in a dream. It is therefore as amenable to interpretation as is dream symbolism. I’m not going to make this easy and tell you what it means. The meaning of a symbol is unique to each individual who views it. If this image came across your radar, it carries a message that only you can decipher…