Prehistoric 2017

Joshua Flint made this painting, "Prehistoric," using oil on canvas. The liminal space between inside and outside is palpable, as we observe a deer standing in a dense, overgrown area, framed by the architecture of a room with a window. Born in 1977, Flint is part of a generation grappling with ecological awareness and a re-evaluation of humanity's relationship with the natural world. He blurs the boundaries of what is considered wild and domestic, and this challenges our understanding of nature as something separate from human existence. The deer embodies the wild; the window and fence are evidence of human encroachment. The darkness of the scene and the deer’s silent presence evoke a sense of mystery. It's as if we've stumbled upon a dream, or a forgotten memory. The deer stands as a symbol, perhaps a haunting reminder of what we stand to lose as natural habitats diminish. In this dreamscape, Flint reminds us of the interconnectedness of our histories and our futures, urging us to reconsider our place within the larger ecological picture.