Untitled 2016

This artwork, of unknown date, is a watercolor by Kinder Album. The dominant visual elements are snowmen engulfed in flames, while children continue to play in the snow. The burning snowman is a potent symbol. Fire, historically a symbol of purification and destruction, is here juxtaposed with the innocent image of a snowman, often a symbol of winter joy. We can trace similar motifs through history. Think of the fiery trials of saints or even the bonfires of pagan rituals. The children seem oblivious to the destruction, continuing to build their snow creations. This juxtaposition taps into our collective memory of innocence in the face of impending doom, stirring a primal fear. It powerfully engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, questioning our ability to recognize and confront destructive forces. The symbol of the burning snowman, has resurfaced now in Album's work, evolved, and taken on new meanings in our contemporary context.