Showtime 2016

Michael Cheval’s painting presents a surreal scene where a woman juggles glowing orbs, her dress morphing into a stage with performers. The treasure chest nearby hints at hidden riches, both material and perhaps emotional. The act of juggling itself is an ancient symbol, seen in Egyptian tombs and medieval art, representing skill, balance, and control. However, here it takes on a theatrical quality, amplified by the stage dress. This conjures associations with commedia dell’arte. The stage is where archetypes come to life, where the conscious and unconscious meet. We are reminded of the Renaissance concept of the "theatrum mundi," where the world is seen as a stage and each individual plays a part. The emotional weight and psychological intensity displayed here invite us to consider how the act of juggling these symbols in the theatre of our minds is a way of processing our collective anxieties and desires. This surrealist tableau embodies a recurring theme in art history, reminding us that symbols are never static. They are constantly reinterpreted through our dreams and the collective cultural memory.