kb Fraser Scott-Fly by Night Scott Fraser

The composition presents a stark contrast between upward aspiration and grounded stillness. A paper airplane, seemingly suspended in mid-flight, dominates the upper portion of the canvas. Its wings bear printed text – Jeffries and Jetfire – suggesting a nod to early aviation pioneers and perhaps evoking a sense of nostalgic ambition. The planes trajectory is angled upwards, implying movement away from the viewer and towards an unseen destination.
Below this airborne element sits a single candle in a tarnished silver candlestick. The flame provides the sole source of illumination within the otherwise dark space, casting subtle highlights on the metallic surface of the holder and creating a small pool of light on the table. A curved hook is visible beside the candlestick, adding an element of domesticity or perhaps hinting at a forgotten purpose.
The background is entirely black, intensifying the focus on the two objects and contributing to a feeling of isolation. The darkness also serves to heighten the symbolic weight of the candles flame – it represents hope, guidance, or even fleeting existence against an overwhelming void.
There’s a deliberate tension between the lightness and fragility of the paper airplane and the solidity and permanence suggested by the metal candlestick. The juxtaposition invites contemplation on themes of childhood dreams versus adult realities, aspiration versus limitation, and the ephemeral nature of both flight and light. The presence of the hook introduces an element of mystery; it could signify restraint or a potential for action that remains unrealized. Overall, the work conveys a quiet melancholy, suggesting a yearning for escape tempered by the constraints of circumstance.