“The tree was good for food, and pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise” (Genesis)

Oil on canvas

36x36in

91.4x91.4cm

The central subject of this oil painting is a large, partially eaten apple core, occupying most of the canvas. Its unusual placement as a monumental, almost architectural form gives it the feeling of a surreal, otherworldly landscape. 

The apple is halved symmetrically, and within its core lies a desolate, dark space with miniature buildings, possibly representing a cityscape or small settlements. This approach gives the impression of a microcosm existing within the decaying apple, a world encased in rot and erosion, suggesting themes of decay in the passage of time and the cyclical nature of life.

Traditionally, apples symbolize knowledge (especially in Western culture, referencing the Biblical story of Adam and Eve). However, here the apple is half-eaten and rotting, emphasizing decay, lost knowledge, or the consequences of indulgence. The viewer might interpret it as a commentary on how all things, no matter how grand, are subject to the natural decay that time brings.

The small structures within the apple’s core appear as diminutive signs of human civilization, adding layers of meaning. Humanity seems insignificant and fleeting, trapped within a larger decaying object that represents the world or a cycle of life beyond our control. This theme suggests the fragility and temporariness of human achievements within a decaying natural world.

On either side of the apple core, we see a full moon on the left and a mysterious, planet-like orb on the right. These celestial bodies symbolize dualities like light and dark, life and death, or creation and destruction. The moon, often linked to cycles and the subconscious, contrasts with the darker, almost ominous orb that might represent an unknown or unreachable realm. Their positions on opposite sides create a balance of opposites, highlighting cosmic forces that dwarf human concerns.

Inside the hollow of the apple, tiny structures, which resemble buildings or human settlements, are barely noticeable at first glance. This suggests an almost hidden or forgotten civilization, perhaps representing humanity’s fleeting existence. It emphasizes the insignificance of human constructs within the vast forces of nature and time.

These tiny buildings may also imply that even within decay, life continues or adapts, forming societies and attempting to thrive, even as the larger structure around it crumbles. It’s a subtle nod to resilience and adaptation, although it also serves as a reminder of humanity’s confinement and fragility within larger, uncontrollable cycles.

The painting can be seen as an existential commentary on the fragility and impermanence of human existence. Humanity is depicted as a small part of a larger, decaying natural system, where everything returns to a primal state despite human attempts at civilization. This could reflect existential views on the absurdity of life, where human struggles and ambitions are ultimately insignificant on a cosmic scale.

There’s a possible critique of modern civilization’s detachment from nature, highlighting how human endeavors are encased within, and perhaps even dependent on, the natural cycles that eventually lead to their demise.

The decaying apple, with signs of human civilization nestled within, may serve as a metaphor for environmental degradation. The image implies that human civilization is encased within the natural world, dependent on it, yet contributing to its decay. The barrenness of the tree and the dark, ominous sky amplify this sense of environmental depletion or the consequences of human interference in natural cycles.

The apple has a mythological resonance, particularly in Western culture. Here, it might be an allegory for the consequences of knowledge or “original sin” in the sense of humanity’s fall from harmony with nature. The dual celestial orbs could represent opposing forces or deities, watching over a world they cannot, or choose not to, intervene in. The entire scene could thus represent an allegorical “Garden of Eden” that has succumbed to decay and desolation.

On a more personal level, the painting could represent an inner psychological landscape. The decaying apple could symbolize the mind or soul, with the structures within representing memories, thoughts, or past achievements that now reside within an eroding space. The surrounding dark, cosmic elements could imply the mind’s vastness or the subconscious realms, with the tree and ladder symbolizing unattainable desires or aspirations that have since withered

This painting presents a layered, thought-provoking composition that touches on themes of mortality, human insignificance, environmental decay, and existential contemplation. Through its surreal imagery, the artist invites viewers to ponder the ephemeral nature of life and civilization within the grander, indifferent cosmos. The apple core, with its miniature world, serves as a poignant symbol for humanity’s fleeting existence, simultaneously sheltered and decaying within a larger natural order, reinforcing the notion that all things, no matter how strong or enduring, are subject to time and dissolution.