The cows are mooing outside my window as I write this, their simple vocalizations a stark contrast to the complex symphony playing out in my mind. There’s something grounding about their presence, a reminder of the beauty in simplicity that I find myself increasingly drawn to as the complexities of my work threaten to overwhelm me.

I awoke at 5:30 this morning, a sense of urgency pulling me from sleep. The exhibition looms ever closer, and I find myself wondering if I can possibly complete everything in time. It’s always like this with art shows, but this one… this one feels different. More important. More urgent.

As I sip my morning tea, I find myself pondering the images I’ve been creating, searching for hidden meanings, trying to find clues where perhaps there are none. Or are there? The line between coincidence and significance becomes increasingly blurred the deeper I delve into this work.

Take, for example, the latest piece to emerge from my subconscious through the process of automatism¹. At first glance, it appears to be a cheerful 1950s advertisement, all bright colors and beaming faces. But look closer, and the unsettling elements begin to reveal themselves.

The image shows a group of men, women, and children, all dressed in the height of 1950s fashion, gathered around what appears to be some sort of futuristic vending machine. But instead of dispensing sodas or snacks, this machine is labeled “HAWLD SLURP” – a nonsensical phrase that nonetheless sends a shiver down my spine.

The figures in the image are unnaturally cheerful, their smiles fixed and almost manic. Their eyes have a glazed, unfocused quality that speaks of minds not fully present. And hovering above them, barely noticeable at first, are what appear to be flying saucers.

What does it all mean? Is this simply a random assemblage of imagery pulled from the collective unconscious, or is there something more at play here? The juxtaposition of 1950s consumerism with alien technology is particularly striking. Could this be a representation of some hidden influence on our society, shaping our desires and behaviors in ways we don’t fully understand?

The “HAWLD SLURP” machine stands out as a central symbol. In Jungian terms, it could be seen as a representation of the Shadow² – that part of ourselves we try to repress or ignore. The eagerness with which the figures in the image reach for its products might suggest a society blindly consuming without questioning the source or consequences of their desires.

The flying saucers add another layer of meaning. In many ways, they remind me of the Beacons I’ve been researching – hidden influences hovering just at the edge of our perception, shaping our reality in ways we can’t quite grasp.

As I continue to produce these images through automatism, I can’t help but feel that I’m tapping into something larger than myself. A collective dream – or perhaps a collective nightmare – that we’re all unknowingly participating in.

The question remains: how do we wake up?

1. Automatism is a surrealist technique in which the artist suppresses conscious control over the creative process, allowing the unconscious mind to take over. It’s a method I’ve been employing extensively in my recent work, as I believe it allows access to deeper truths that might otherwise remain hidden.
2. The Shadow, in Jungian psychology, refers to the unconscious aspects of the personality which the conscious ego does not identify in itself. It often contains repressed ideas, weaknesses, desires, instincts, and shortcomings.