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I think of this painting as depicting three constituents of life on
earth. In order of seniority and specific gravity they are the ancient
rock, the numberless grasses and constitutional democracy.
The three are as different as it is possible to be one from the other;
heavy or light, living or dead, new or old, physical or virtual, and
yet they are at times part of one story each dependent on possibilities
the others create.
I think of democracy as being represented in the painting by the
unknown which lies over the hill. That is what I like best about
election day, the convivial manner in which we confront the unknown and
all toss our futures into the air together. It seems uniquely modern to
me, joyfully scientific, that we should have a public celebration of
uncertainty.
It is a source of pride and satisfaction that this painting now graces
the room where my home town of Essex holds its public meetings.
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