Om Navon Art Blog

The name “Floating Worlds” was inspired by the waves of Hokusai and the vast landscapes of Hiroshige. In the 17^th to 20^th century Ukiyo-e (“pictures of the floating world”) was a genre of woodblock prints and paintings that featured motifs of landscapes and tales of history. The “Floating World” refers to the urban culture that bloomed and was a world unto itself.

Except for the name and the reference to waves, water and extreme landscape that’s where the similarities end.

My reference to “Floating Worlds” has to do with the idea of home and where you find it. Some days I think about my place in this world. Am I where I should be? Would it be better somewhere else? Am I in my own world?

In the past 5 months while working on this painting I watched 6 families, on the street I live, lose their homes. With the large tent cities sprouting up and the number of homeless growing, I become increasingly fearful about the fact that I could easily be where those people are, I already lost the place I called home, because I couldn’t afford to live there, fortunately, I have family that has helped me. I don’t feel I’m in a home, though, it’s just a place to live. When one creates a home and loses it how do they regain that feeling again? Is it easy to start over? What if you don’t have the means after you lose everything are you ready to find an alternate way to live? The answer for me is that I’m not ready but I would manage if it came to that, living things can adapt to whatever environment they’re put in, I’m no different.

In my painting, I have tried to illustrate how I imagine people feel about their homes. Some can’t let go and grasp to it barely with strings; some are sailing the ship of denial; some hold tight to their home; and others are just searching for their place in the world. They all seem content with their situations even the few that are underwater. The Hamsters represent the struggling people who are one in a million, their quest for individuality feels like they’re drowning in a sea of sameness, but the hope that they can emerge is always in their thoughts and is attainable if the continue to try. The red ”cinnamon” bears are a tribute to my sister. It’s a memory of her I hold dear. Bears mean a lot of things to me, mostly comfort. The large girl is the goddess of waves, Kymopoleia. KYMOPOLEIA (or Cymopolea) was a Haliad nymph daughter of the god Poseidon and wife of the hundred-handed, storm-giant Briareos. She was probably a goddess of the violent storm waves generated by her stormy husband and, like her husband, presumably was of gigantic form. Kymopoleia is innocently playing in the water and doesn’t realize that she’s destructive. The addition of the circular pieces, which I call “Individual Worlds”, alludes to those who are focused on their lives and cannot empathize with others for whatever reason. In conclusion they say home is where the heart is and for me my heart is home when I make art.