I Don’t Want to, Just Survive I Want to, Truly Live

Symbolic Art – I Don’t Want to, Just Survive I Want to, Truly Live

This symbolic art piece is inspired by Franz Kline’s abstract expressionist style as well as Rorschach’s inkblots. The modern-day art piece was born on a weekend away to a little place called Baardskeerdersbos, direct translation meaning beard shearer’s bush. Camera in hand and enjoying the fynbos landscape, I decided that this would be the perfect time to experiment with my photography, based on an in-camera creative process I had been playing around with.

I named this one-off print ‘I Don’t Want to, Just Survive I Want to, Truly Live’ because it represents a pair of lungs and, as we know, lungs perform a vital task in providing oxygen to the body to live. The condition of the natural extinction to which all mortality is subject requires us to accept that this function will cease to exist for all of us someday. Carpe diem!

Similarly, when we become aware that we do not have forever on earth, we ignite an inner motivation to use our time more mindfully, more intentionally. Making daily decisions about whether we choose to engage with life and truly live or allow fear to keep us in survival mode will impact how we live.

Click here to read more about the Rorschach Inkblot test https://tinyurl.com/3nxeb74f

Click here to read the Inkblot series synopsis https://kleonikivanos.com/product-category/inkblots/