Childhood Treasures

When I was a kid the world was magical, there was no bad in anything. And despite of what people might have thought about childhood in east Germany, I was always thinking of the future as a bright adventure with great things to come. Decades later now I know there ARE boarders, there IS injustice, pain, war, poverty…the list of existing problems is way too long. Although this canvas can be understood as a generic symbol for our questionable handling of our planet as a heritage to our progeny, there’re also many personal details in it.

The metal box is filled with items from my childhood then and items of importance for my son now. Handing over my treasures, including our planet earth, to my son is a natural act. He added his treasures to the box, but he is not sure about the miniature earth and wonders whether this is actually an item belonging to it. This was the first time I took a photo of my youngest boy, who is my only biological child, as a reference. Thus the original canvas to this print is actually a dedication to him and my new role as a father.