A tree and its reflection 2017

Editor: This is Alfred Freddy Krupa’s 2017 ink drawing, “A Tree and its Reflection.” It’s deceptively simple, a quick sketch-like image, but something about its sparse nature feels very calming. It reminds me of zen painting. How do you interpret this work? Curator: Indeed. The calmness you perceive connects to a deeper wellspring of cultural memory. Think about the enduring symbolism of the tree across cultures. The tree as axis mundi, connecting heaven and earth. And the reflection... Editor: Like a mirror image of self? Curator: Precisely! What is the nature of the self, versus its reflection? What do you make of how Krupa uses the circular shapes up top? Does this have resonance to mandalas? Editor: I hadn't thought of mandalas...It also looks like the moon to me! Especially paired with water and the idea of a reflection...The moon reflecting in water! I am thinking about the relationship between man and nature. Curator: And how might Krupa be using these symbolic shapes and arrangements to convey a sense of harmony, balance, and the interconnectedness of all things? Are we looking at a search for stability through a mediation between concrete imagery and abstract philosophy? The single stroke suggests a spontaneous gesture – can this mean enlightenment? Editor: Thinking about the connection between humans and nature makes so much sense, given the simple abstraction of it all. Thanks, this really opens it up. Curator: And I now see the work as an intuitive act made tangible through these rich, enduring symbols.