Jumping Shadow, 1987 1987

Richard Hambleton created "Jumping Shadow" in 1987 using paint on paper. The stark silhouette against a bright ground evokes primal fears—the lurking unknown. The dark figure recalls the shadow as a symbol in art across millennia. It evokes Plato’s cave, where shadows represent a distorted reality. Consider, too, the ancient Roman funerary practice of tracing a person's shadow before their burial, a ritual to capture and perhaps contain the spirit. The dynamism in Hambleton's work, a figure caught mid-motion, contrasts sharply with these static, historical examples. The figure almost jumps out, imbued with a vitality that belies the shadow’s traditional association with death and the subconscious. This bold reinterpretation allows us to confront our primordial anxieties, transforming fear into a visceral experience, an emotional release through art. Hambleton reminds us that symbols are never fixed; they evolve, adapt, and continue to reflect our deepest collective memories and anxieties.