oil on panel

thank you to [link] for the photo of the operating table i used as reference.

This piece was inspired by Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus" and the underlying theme that mankind’s single-minded and unbridled ambition frequently creates monsters whose detrimental side effects often eclipse the initial good they were intended for. Examples that come to mind are the combustible engine (global warming), television (mass stupidity), nuclear weapons (human extinction), pesticides (ecological meltdown), the corporate institution (unrestrained greed and abuse of power), genetics (possible human cloning), etc., etc. – the list could go on and on… insert your favorite human vice(s) as you wish.

It’s often struck me how absolutely brilliant we humans can be (intelligent enough to invent all manner of clever things) – yet seriously delayed in exercising wisdom and patience. I’m not against invention or innovation by any means, but it’s my opinion that the newfound abilities, knowledge, and insights we come across should be tempered by mindfulness, forethought, and restraint. Upon discovering our ability and power to do something, well… it doesn’t necessarily follow that we should. What starts off as the guiding light of knowledge and discovery might eventually develop into an all-consuming fire.