Own Me?” (essay) Gerardo Negrete-Gonzalez: In the Cloud of Smoke (art

Watercolor.

In the Cloud of Smoke

Gerardo Negrete-Gonzalez

War is undoubtedly one of the most stressful times in a person’s life, not only for the soldiers fighting on the front lines but also for their loved ones back at home. During times of war, a soldier has a limited time to reflect because of his or her active duties in war. In this painting, the artist is able to capture a split-second still-frame as a soldier reflects on his loved one. As the soldier takes a moment to take a smoke break, he blows a smoke cloud, and in this smoke an image of his beautiful daughter is revealed. It is in that moment that he wishes humanity could be more like the bird.

The bird is free. The bird is free from conflict, stress, and war. The bird stands and flies wherever it wants to go. The bird represents true freedom, a freedom soldiers aim to achieve but cannot because of violence.

In this painting, the artist uses watercolors and paint brushes to protest war. War represents an interesting paradox, in that hundreds of thousands of lives are typically lost to achieve the perception of peace. The bird is a symbol of what humanity truly aims to achieve: freedom.

November 20, 2021