Bust My Bubble 

David Michael Bowers's oil painting presents a scene of classical allegory infused with contemporary irony. The bubbles here are potent symbols. In classical art, bubbles, like the vanitas of a skull or an hourglass, often symbolize the brevity of life, the fleeting nature of beauty, and the transience of earthly pleasures. Consider the Dutch Golden Age paintings, where similar fragile orbs float, reminding viewers of mortality. Yet, here, these bubbles are not just reminders of death, but symbols of desires and dreams as well. In this setting, the naked women blowing bubbles evokes a complex interplay between innocence and artifice, nature and culture. Note the lilies, traditionally associated with purity and innocence, which sit alongside the raw meat and playful dog, creating a dichotomy of the sacred and profane, reflecting our subconscious struggle with opposing desires and societal expectations. The painting engages viewers on a deeply psychological level, inviting us to reflect on the fleeting and often contradictory nature of our own lives and desires.