Zandy Dickman

Zandy Dickman

“The Great Escape”

Pencil and pen on paper

This is a self-portrait. The owl is symbolic of wisdom and the keeper of hidden truths. There are a lot of things I feel I know; knowledge that is not necessarily ‘learnt’, but that we are born with from the very start. An owl is also a famous symbol for guidance, and someday I hope to travel and teach people around the world about these secret values and to help them understand the importance of life – how important it is, how fragile it is, and how we must fight to preserve it. The code around the owl’s leg reads ‘00094’. This is my school ID number. It is a branding. It shows that I am owned by society, that I belong to it, and that I must obey and follow its rules. The hands, chains and watches are symbolic of the things that prevent me from being me. The hands are the grip of society, holding me in one place, preventing me from exploring the world and learning and teaching new things. The chains are the restraints society locks me up in. They resemble my prison cell. The watches are a symbol of ‘time’; reminding us that it is, in fact, only limited, and that you don’t live forever. You must work hard to make the impact you want to make, to act on the change you want to see in the world before your time is up for good. Work hard to achieve your goals and ambitions while you can and break away from the limits society weighs you down with. Strive to be free.