In this painting, the stone-like child sitting on the tree stump represents a memory — a remnant of a time when children were truly present in the world. Though still and colorless, he is the only one noticing the butterfly drifting past, a symbol of fleeting beauty and freedom. He may seem frozen in time, but he is quietly connected to nature and wonder.
In contrast, the two colorful children are immersed in the artificial glow of a smartphone screen, their attention fully absorbed by digital ‘likes’ and symbols. They mistake these virtual interactions for real play, unaware of the world around them. Their feet dip into the screen as if it were a pond, but it reflects nothing — only the surface of a carefully curated illusion.
This painting is a reflection on how childhood is shifting — how we’re moving from imagination and presence to distraction and virtuality. The digital world is not life — it’s a distraction that silently steals away their (and our!) most precious years.
