Pete Bunnell 1975

Mike Mandel created this photographic print titled ‘Pete Bunnell.’ The most arresting symbol here is the large heart shape the figure presents. Consider the heart, an ancient emblem, deeply embedded in our collective psyche. In antiquity, it was not associated with love but with memory and intellect, the very core of being. Over time, especially during the Middle Ages, it began its long association with romantic love, often depicted pierced by an arrow, a symbol of Cupid's mischievous intervention. Here, however, the heart seems weighty, almost burdensome, reflecting perhaps the complexities and trials of love rather than its euphoric ideal. It could evoke feelings of vulnerability and the emotional weight we carry in our relationships. This echoes throughout history as the symbol resurfaces, constantly reshaped by our ever-evolving understanding of love and emotions.