Water Lily 

Here we see Troy Brooks's painting, Water Lily, populated with motifs rich in cultural resonance. The goldfish, symbols of wealth and abundance in Asian cultures, swim around a pale woman who seems to embody a state of serene yet unsettling beauty. Consider the water lily itself, a bloom that rises from murky depths into the light, mirroring the soul's journey. It is present in ancient Egyptian art to depict rebirth and in the Western world to represent purity. The lily-like woman, poised amidst her aquatic companions, evokes an emotional resonance, a visual echo of the ancient narratives of transformation. Her stillness is striking, reminiscent of Ophelia, suspended in her watery grave. Observe how Brooks masterfully employs these archetypal symbols to create a dreamlike tableau, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. This is the cyclical nature of symbols, resurfacing through time, reborn and reinterpreted.