The Reader

The third painting I did for my "Dreams" series, and probably the most complicated piece I've done in a long time. It depicts my close friend and her love for reading. She finds solace, inspiration and hope in the world of literature, and I wanted to portray her exploring the endless boundaries of a realm where the imaginary elements existing only in fiction come alive. Although most of the visual elements in this painting are surreal, there is also a balance because the surreal elements are juxtaposed with scenes that are reminiscent of our daily lives, such as the hustle and bustle in the market place and the skyscrapers visible in the background.This is to show that although my friend dares to dream, she does not lose herself entirely in idealistic dreams and is able to confront the harsher reality as well. The light bulbs within the floating jellyfish serve as her guide to this foreign and bizarre world as she looks on with awe, never ceasing to be amazed at the limitless capabilities of our imagination.

Done with acrylics and gouache on canvas