Shade of the Rose 

Michael Parkes' enigmatic "Shade of the Rose" presents us with a fairy perched beneath an enormous yellow rose, engaging with a hummingbird amidst a dreamy sky. The rose, a symbol laden with cultural weight, traditionally signifies love, beauty, and transience. Yet, its yellow hue hints at friendship or even jealousy, a departure from the classic red rose of passion. This subtle shift echoes in art history—from the ancient Greeks, who associated roses with Aphrodite, to medieval Christian symbolism where it represented the Virgin Mary. Hummingbirds, often seen as messengers or symbols of joy and lightness, add another layer. Consider how such motifs reappear across cultures: the butterfly in East Asian art, symbolizing transformation, or the dove in Western religious painting, representing the Holy Spirit. These symbols, like threads, connect diverse cultural narratives across time. The combined effect evokes a sense of longing, the fleeting nature of beauty, and perhaps a hint of melancholy. This deeply resonant visual language taps into our collective memory, stirring emotions tied to the transient yet persistent nature of life itself.