“Almost anywhere, man is constantly flooded by images of beauty and near perfection. Finding a good looking someone to fill the next commercial spot with those dashing good looks doesn’t seem all too difficult these days, but is anything truly real? Do any of them have the gift of telling a story or stirring up an emotion?
There is something almost indeterminate about this picture; almost a duality. It has so many sides that it doesn’t clearly say just one thing. It seems to speak volumes about the many sides of life. It isn’t quote as black and white as the actual picture may lead one to believe, but it does seem to represent both the light and darkness of life.
As Michael kneels down in what appears to be a child’s sandbox, one is reminded of the innocence of youth and how carefree childhood can often be.
This time, there’s only one person in the sandbox though. It’s Michael. He kneels in the sand with is back to the wall. A sense of solitude seems profound. It’s almost as though the wall is Michaels’ shield. It keeps him safe.
Michael isn’t a child though. He looks to be in his twenties with chiseled features and a golden brown tan. It isn’t the look or the body that tells the story though. It’s the express and the posture which convey more than words possible could.
His arms are wrapped around his knees and his head is tipped to the right. His shoulders are rolled backward and his legs are tight to his chest. This pose seems fetal.
There is something profound abut the apparent sadness that is momentarily etched into this chiseled face; something unearthing about the struggle between physical strength and beauty and the longing for love and acceptance. The expression cuts deep, but oddly, there is hope. A sense of inquiry replaces the more common pictorial smile. Inquisitiveness and exploration are seemingly birthed. We wonder what has shaped his life. It almost seems as though he has pulled away from the world and is staring with but one thing on his mind. An understanding that the past is history and the future is discovery.” By S.A.F 8/97
