Hot Chocolate 

Scott Fraser's painting presents a humble match, alight and upright, surrounded by fallen comrades. This small flame carries a grand symbolic weight, evoking the Promethean gift of fire, the enlightenment of knowledge, and the destructive potential of unchecked power. Observe how the artist arranges the matches in a domino effect leading to the burning match. This motif echoes across time, from the chain reactions visualized in alchemical diagrams to the carefully orchestrated compositions of Baroque vanitas paintings, reminding us of life's fragility and the fleeting nature of existence. The elephant on the matchbox, labeled “Light of India,” adds another layer. The animal, a symbol of memory and wisdom, draws our attention to the cyclical progression of this symbol. The image is an invitation to reflect on how symbols are never truly extinguished but resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different contexts. The singular flame is a poignant reminder of our own fleeting existence and the cultural memory we carry within us.