Disco Heliotrope
Heliotropism is a process in which a flower follows the sun as it travels across the sky. This biological function is instinctual in the plant to increase the amount of light it consumes and increase photosynthesis. All living beings are wired to survive and thrive no matter the context. We are constantly looking for the sun to guide us.
What can we learn from the flowers?
This piece is an exploration of perception, reality, and the human condition, inspired by Plato's Allegory of the Cave.
In the allegory, the viewer is confronted with a group of figures shackled in darkness, their bodies turned toward a distant wall where flickering shadows dance. These shadows, distorted and fragmented, represent the prisoners' limited understanding of the world—shadows they believe to be the entirety of existence. Above them, a faint light spills through an opening in the cave, suggesting the possibility of escape, enlightenment, and a broader truth that lies beyond their narrow confinement. One figure, in a moment of both terror and wonder, reaches towards the light, symbolizing the painful yet transformative journey of self-discovery and the pursuit of knowledge. The contrast between the darkness of the cave and the luminous rays breaking through evoke the tension between ignorance and understanding, between the known and the unknown. The shadows themselves—abstract, fluid forms—are both a metaphor for the illusions we live by and a reminder of how easily we can mistake appearances for reality. The boundary between the real and the imagined is blurred, inviting viewers to reflect on the nature of their own perceptions and the potential truths that lie beyond the surface of everyday life.
“Disco Heliotrope" follows Flower Child, despondent and scared of not knowing what is true. They watch Shadow Caster seductively encourage them to believe the illusion of what will bring contentment, greed, sex, and social climbing. society tells us what we should want. Flower Child is lured down this road, but subconsciously knows it is a false beacon. They are intrigued by Shadow Caster’s offerings, however, as the funky beat continues, Flower Child begins to question the reality before them.
By exploring the world around them, Flower Child realizes that the real light, the sun, is behind them. Made of flowers, oranges, and disco ball mirrors, the sun represents the nutrients the natural world supplies. We forget it is there, yet the orange sun shines no matter what and connects us to the natural world, to pure energy. Throughout the creation of the sculpture, I meditated on the aesthetic of health and growth. Originally imagining a naturalistic piece with muted tones to constrast the shadow’s illusion, I concluded that there is just as much excitement and fun in the wisdom the sun offers as there is in the ego, which the Shadow Caster represents. The importance of oranges is a reference to the forbidden fruit from the Garden of Eden. In the bible, eating this is seen as human hubris, however my interpretation shows the fruit as a healing gift from the Earth. Packed with vitamin C and nutrients, oranges represent my own journey of nurturing myself and having faith in the earth.
This interpretation of the Allegory of the Cave brings Plato’s philosophy to the modern age where we are bombarded with shallow ways to be happy. From get rich quick schemes offered by social media influencers, hook up culture, and a general disconnect from nature, there are many shadows trying to divert our attention from true wisdom. However, I don’t believe wisdom has to be boring; there is power in introspection and bettering oneself. “Disco Heliotrope” challenges the viewer to question their own view of the world, encouraging them to step out of the comfort of familiar shadows and into the unknown light of a more expansive and authentic understanding of themselves and nature.