36 x 48 Deep gallery wrap canvas. Beginning this painting, I had the urge to do something not only bigger in size, but also something with more mindful depth and dimension. It all started with the surreal idea of painting the koi swimming between boulders in a way that the boulders could be seen as asteroids in space. As I painted, other ideas and interpretations were rolling around in my mind, becoming more varied and complex as I painted into the subject. The image that finally developed, did retain the asteroid effect but not overwhelmingly so, allowing the viewer to form their own interpretation. As I continued to work on the piece it became more symbolic to me of our hopes and dreams and how in our desire for knowledge and truth, we often blindly put our faith in others, who we are led to believe, know better than ourselves and have our best interests in mind. I didn’t have political or religious intent for this painting but I know it is a piece that is open to a variety of interpretations and may stir up more questions than answers... which I gladly welcome. It is the viewers interpretation and personal interaction with the art that fulfills the final premise and result I wanted from the painting. To me... The Koi represents humanity and our social tendency as a species to gather together, to form and follow the beliefs and teachings that evolved from nothing more than wild guess interpretations of the unknown. Interpretations that were as vague and magical as the inviting light emanating from deep within the pond. The oblivious Koi, swim gently and peacefully as they are directed into the light emanating from a seemingly warm and inviting place and into the dark and cold vastness of space on the other side. Are we being led into the dark or into the light...? Is it the end, or the beginning..? It is our capacity for imagination, creativity, spirituality and power to make choices that defines our place in the universe. We do not require direction or control, we are as limitless as the universe we are born from.