PAPER JOURNEY
Alberto León’s work “Paper Journey” (90 x 120 cm) depicts two children playing by the water’s edge, but with a background full of symbolism. The white child propels a fragile paper boat, a representation of imagination and childhood innocence, where play is experienced as a risk-free adventure. In contrast, the black child holds a small toy boat reminiscent of a raft, an object that in his imagination is not just fun, but a reflection of the harsh and dangerous journeys that many must face to seek a better future.
The difference between the boats reinforces the distance between their worlds: the paper, ephemeral and light, versus the raft, heavy with memory and collective pain. Thus, their way of playing also varies: while one approaches the water with carefree abandon, the other does so with a more restrained gesture, aware that his toy symbolizes an experience marked by survival.
The background, with the fragmented phrase “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”, underscores the contradiction between the universal right to freedom and happiness, and the real inequality that separates both children. The mix of realism and urban graffiti accentuates this contrast, turning the scene into a reflection on innocence, memory, and social justice.
Status: Not available
Size: 90 x 120 cm
Technique: Acrylic on canvas
Year: 2020
