Untitled (from the series Still Water (The River Thames, for Example)) 1999

This photograph by Roni Horn captures the River Thames in flux. The water, in perpetual motion, appears both chaotic and serene, a symbol rich with cultural and historical significance. Consider the motif of flowing water, seen across civilizations: the Nile in ancient Egypt, the Ganges in India, and now the Thames. Water symbolizes purification, renewal, and the ceaseless passage of time. In mythology, rivers often mark boundaries between worlds, like the River Styx of the underworld. These symbols, so deeply entrenched in the collective psyche, lend the image a profound emotional depth, stirring something primal within us. The subconscious seeks patterns, and here, the patterns are fluid. Water, with its intrinsic mutability, is perhaps the most apt metaphor for our own inner lives, reflecting our ever-changing states of being. These recurring symbols demonstrate how ancient motifs continue to resonate, constantly transforming and mirroring our evolving understanding of existence.