Role of the Nail in the Future

In this metarealistic painting, Victor examines the nature of symbolism and representation in painting; he also examines the topic of time. The painting leads us to reflect on the connection between reality and its symbolic representation in artwork.

"The Role of the Nail in the Future" depicts a painting which has been nailed to a wall. A painting is a representation of (some aspects of) reality. Thus, "The Role of the Nail in the Future" is a representation of a reality which contains another representation of a prior reality.

The painting which has been nailed to the wall is a portrait of the artist about to start another painting. Is the painting which the artist is about to begin "The Role of the Nail in the Future"? In the real world, the artist Victor Bregeda has finished his creation. Within the space of the painting, he will always be about to begin.

Thus, "The Role of the Nail in the Future" portrays loops in time, and loops in space and its symbolic representation. This painting brings up several questions: What is the process by which our minds use symbols to represent aspects of reality? What part does symbolism play in consciousness and how do our minds work?