The Dreaming#17 Dave Mckean

Here we observe a striking composition dominated by contrasting elements and unsettling imagery. A hand, rendered in a textured, almost sculptural style, extends from the darkness, presenting a large, singular eye as its central focus. The hand itself appears aged and weathered, with visible veins and an overall pallor that suggests fragility or decay. Its presentation of the eye is deliberate, almost reverent, yet imbued with a sense of vulnerability.
The eye itself is remarkable. It’s not simply depicted; its constructed – a complex assemblage of organic forms surrounding a central pupil. The iris glows with an intense orange hue, drawing immediate attention and conveying a feeling of heightened awareness or perhaps even surveillance. This unusual construction suggests the eye isn’t merely observing but actively generating something – a dream, a vision, or a reality.
Framing this central scene is a rectangular border in a vibrant, saturated orange. The texture within the border mimics distressed paper or aged fabric, adding to the overall sense of decay and antiquity. Above the hand and eye, blocky lettering spells out The Dreaming, further emphasizing the thematic core of the work. The font’s rigid geometry contrasts sharply with the organic forms below, creating a visual tension between structure and fluidity, control and chaos.
Subtexts within this piece revolve around themes of perception, consciousness, and the nature of reality. The singular eye suggests an isolated perspective, perhaps representing a subjective experience or a distorted view of the world. The hand’s presentation implies a responsibility for that vision – a burden of knowledge or insight. The title The Dreaming hints at the subconscious mind, suggesting that what is presented isnt necessarily objective truth but rather a product of imagination and internal processes.
The combination of decay (in the hand), intense observation (the eye), and the suggestion of constructed reality (The Dreaming) evokes a sense of unease and invites contemplation on the fragility of perception and the potential for manipulation within our own minds. The work seems to question what is real, who or what is observing, and the implications of those observations.