Javea Grapevine 185 2016 Four | Page 55

Why so many Landscapes and why Trees? Perhaps it is the sense of solitude, calm, tranquillity and natural balance. Symbolically trees are representative of life. Trees, like humans, are living entities. They grow, they reproduce and they die. Images vary depending on the state of mind; open spaces and distant horizons can convey a lightness of spirit. Gnarled trunks and twisted roots may indicate the trials and tribulations that the trees have endured, or perhaps express their strength and connection to the earth. The choice is made on the basis of what is emotionally meaningful at that moment. Viewing a tree makes a connection beyond the aesthetic; memories and metaphorical meaning become embedded in the image. When looking at roots we may think simply of the roots of the tree or we may, either consciously or subconsciously, equate them with our familial roots and with our own connection to the earth.