The Thinker
Is the freedom of my flying soul forever behind bars? 难道飞翔的灵魂将永远被监禁在自由的门槛？
Copyright (c) 2006 Helen Wang
This picture was taken at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. It remimded me of a poem by a Chinese poet: “难道飞翔的灵魂将永远被监禁在自由的门槛？” - Is the freedom of my flying soul forever behind bars?
It was when I first came to the United States almost fifteen years ago. The poem resonated with me strongly. I wish to dedicate this piece to those who are not yet able to have free thinking on their own.
posted by Helen Wang @ 10:01 PM
15 Comments:
At August 08, 2006,
Leah C said…
COOL!
At August 08, 2006,
Jennifer R said…
Really nice, Helen.
At August 08, 2006,
Helen Wang said…
Thanks, Leah and Jennifer. The photo was taken at the Legion of Honor at San Francisco. It reminded me a poem - "is the freedom of my flying soul forever behind bars?" So I use it as the subtitle of this picture.
At August 08, 2006,
Carol R said…
great image, that one always captures me with its brutal reality.
At August 08, 2006,
Mary C L said…
rodin, the thinker--maybe one of his copies
here is a nice link which gives history and background to the piece
http://www.artcyclopedia.com/feature-2001-08.html
is dante sitting befoe the gates of hell
rodin nmade copies of his models--so the vienna state opera has a bust of mahler, but so does the prague opera house, both from same cast
At August 08, 2006,
Helen Wang said…
Yes, it the Thinker by Rodin.
Thanks, Mary for providing the link. I will take a look.
At August 09, 2006,
Srijith Unni said…
Hi Helen,
THinker is all nice and an awesome piece of art..! Agreeable..
Yet, Why is it that i felt betrayed after seeing a post after such a loong while..! :)
Maybe I was looking for some great locales and looking for some of your great encounters with nature..
Well!.. Maybe next time..
With Best Regards,
Srijith.
At August 09, 2006,
Helen Wang said…
Srijith,
Sorry you felt this way, I was hoping taking the picture of the Thinker from this angle would provoke some thoughts and reflection.
As I said, it reminded me of a poem by Chinese poet "Is the freedom of my flying soul forever behind bars?" It was when I first came to the United States and the poem resonated with me so strongly and it left a deep imprint in my memory.
I wish to dedicate this piece to those who are not yet able to have free thinking on their own
At August 09, 2006,
Dolphi D said…
Impressive picture, Helen. This thinker in shade seems to be a copy of Rodin - a bit struggling and wriggling with thoughts.
At August 09, 2006,
Susan P said…
Good points for fine viewing I say.
At August 09, 2006,
Srijith Unni said…
Helen.. I truly understand it`s significance now.
I`m sorry if my comment hurt you. :)
With Best Regards,
Srijith Unni.
At August 10, 2006,
ashok said…
one of my fav sculptures too...nice shot
At August 10, 2006,
DA said…
Great shot indeed. The Thinker was originally meant to be Dante in front of the Gates of hell. I guess the statue now is thinking about war of the world in the middle east..
At August 10, 2006,
Helen Wang said…
Srijith, no my feeling is not hurt. It's good to know what you are expecting :-).
Ashok, yes it's one of my favorite statues too.
DA, good point! If humanity keeps fighting like this, it's heading toward the hell. May peace be on earth!
At August 11, 2006,
Velu Nair said…
The query that u have posed along with The Thinker, set me doing exactly what such a post would do - it kindled a few emotions that lay deep within somewhere! As one struggles to free the soul from the shackles of pain and hurt that bogs it down, one realises with a sense of resignation, that freedom after all, isnt always synonymous with liberty.
Thx Helen! An evocative post!
:)
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