Passenger 

Erik Thor Sandberg’s painting *Passenger* presents a tableau of an injured bear carrying a child on its back, both pierced by arrows. Sandberg, born in 1975, creates work that often explores themes of vulnerability and resilience through surreal imagery. There’s a compelling tension here between the innocence of childhood and the harsh realities of the natural world. The child, bound to the bear with rope and a camera, seems both a burden and a companion. The arrows suggest a shared suffering, blurring the lines between predator and prey. The backdrop evokes a sense of displacement, with a desolate landscape stretching towards a distant horizon. This painting evokes a sense of empathy, asking us to consider the interconnectedness of life and the impact of human actions on the environment. Sandberg’s painting serves as a poignant reflection on the fragility of existence and the need for compassion in a world marked by struggle and uncertainty.