Freedom For Sale series

In January 2010, I was invited to participate in a PianoForte event commemorating Franz Schubert—a Schubertiade.

Inspired by his music, I explored the interplay of his cyclothymia on his compositions, the historical context of often-raided Schubertiades, leading to arrests, and my own reflections on decaying symbols of freedom and the societal need for healing.

This series visually articulates these themes. Vibrant watercolor backgrounds featuring expanding mandalas – symbolizing the spiraling energy of Schubert's melodies and the cyclical nature of his moods – are brutally intersected by stark black ink images: a dollar sign, a homogenous row of suburban houses, a lone pine tree dwarfed by speeding cars, all representing the stifling materialism of society.

This clashing contrast aims to evoke a bittersweet reflection on the enduring power of art in the face of societal pressures, leaving the viewer with a sense of both sorrow for what's lost and a glimmer of hope for the resilience of the human spirit.