Circus - sun II 

This is Małgorzata Serwatka’s painting, Circus – sun II. From the cosmos, a sleeping tiger rests on a crescent moon, evoking the celestial power often associated with lunar symbolism, while prancing white horses suggest a classical procession. But observe how the chariot wheels and dancers introduce a dynamic tension. The wheel, an ancient symbol, moves from the sun-like dome below, up through celestial bodies, and finally reappears in mechanized form. Its association with fortune and cyclical existence is complicated by its industrialization. Similarly, the figures, with their tutus and acrobatic gestures, appear to float in dreamlike landscapes, recalling the nymphs of antiquity. These symbols resurface in new contexts. The chariot, once a divine vehicle, is now part of a theatrical display; the nymphs of old are now ballerinas, and evoke a sense of wistful longing for an idyllic past. These elements together engage our collective memory and subconscious, reminding us of the ways that symbols evolve, adapt, and endure across time.