Searching

Painted in watercolour (photographed, not scanned).

This image is about choosing your own destiny, your own path in life, having the courage to leave things behind to go searching for "answers from the great beyond". This is what the main character of the image does, she steps out of her halo and leaves the safety of mainstream society to follow her dreams, despite potential failure and ridicule in other peoples eyes.

The image was inspired by Art Nouveau and '60s poster art and the lyrics of the song The Great Beyond by R.E.M.


THE GREAT BEYOND

I’ve watched the stars fall silent from your eyes
All the sights that I have seen
I can’t believe that I believed I wished
That you could see
There’s a new planet in the solar system
There is nothing up my sleeve

I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs
I’m tossing up punchlines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

And all this talk of time
Talk is fine
And I don’t want to stay around
Why can’t we pantomime, just close our eyes
And sleep sweet dreams
Being here with wings on our feet

I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs
I’m tossing up punch lines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

I’m breaking through
I’m bending spoons
I’m keeping flowers in full bloom
I’m looking for answers from the great beyond

I want the hummingbirds, the dancing bears
Sweetest dreams of you
Look into the stars
Look into the moon

I’m pushing an elephant up the stairs
I’m tossing up punch lines that were never there
Over my shoulder a piano falls
Crashing to the ground

I’m breaking through
I’m bending spoons
I’m keeping flowers in full bloom
I’m looking for answers from the great beyond

- R.E.M. (1999)


Edit: Colour corrected version uploaded