Untitled 

This surreal painting by Dominique Appia envisions a subway platform, where crystalline formations jut from the walls and line the floor. Notice the figure with a head of quartz, echoing the motifs around him. Crystals have long been symbols of clarity and transformation. Throughout history, they’ve appeared as emblems of purity in religious art and as symbols of enlightenment in esoteric traditions. Think of the medieval depictions of saints with crystal halos, or the alchemists seeking the philosopher's stone. Here, Appia imbues the underground transit space with these qualities. The repetition of the crystal motif creates a dreamlike rhythm, invoking a psychological space of introspection. The faceless figure, crowned with crystals, suggests a merging of the individual with the mineral world. This merging evokes a deep, subconscious resonance, inviting viewers to contemplate our place within a larger, geological narrative. Just as crystals form and transform over millennia, so too do our identities evolve within the currents of history. Appia's artwork encapsulates this non-linear progression, where ancient symbols resurface, evolving and taking on new meanings in the modern world.