Things Aren't As They Seem

Things Aren't As They Seem

Artist
Cliff Powell
Size
Date
2025
Medium
Painting
Material
Acrylic
Description
"Things Aren’t As They Seem" challenges our perception of reality and questions who truly holds control. It reveals two worlds: a modern cityscape and an industrial-age setting hidden behind a giant curtain. Behind this curtain, gears and machinery symbolize the systems powering society, suggesting that we’re all part of a vast industrial machine. A man riding a penny-farthing bicycle—a symbol of wealth and status—is elevated high above everything, embodying power and influence. Yet, the bicycle’s notorious instability and danger make it a metaphor for the fragility of power. Even the slightest bump could send the rider crashing down, much like those who “pull the strings” are often more vulnerable than they appear. By drawing back the curtain, the rider exposes the machinery that drives modern life, challenging our assumptions about who holds real control and what’s truly real. It invites us to look beyond the surface and explore the deeper truths of influence and power.
Price
$ 3,000
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