Hi @agmoore 👋🙂
That's very interesting. Not least because your interpretation partly coincides with my intentions.
Also for me, the gate of stone is a symbol for time. In my collage, it stands for time in general.
It is the image depth of the world behind the gate that stands for the past. The autumnal row of trees stands for a very past time of deprivation.
In the foreground there are the legs that have no torso, and the child in the water has fins instead. Where actually the belly on top of the legs should appear, there is an open zipper. The legs are removable.
The child is at the very front in the image depth of the world behind the gate, it is in the present. At this time it has already learned to adapt and to be flexible (legs replaced by fins).
Both dolphin and duck are contemporary witnesses and idols at the same time, from various times in the past to the present. And in the present they are even introjects.
Indeed, it is very abstract. Actually, it wasm't meant to be a symbolism that only I can understand. But I obviously failed a bit. Instead, it has become at least a funny picture, I hope. :-D
Sending a friendly hug over the ocean to you. 🤗Thanks for stopping by, @agmoore.