cabron art

Okay, so I’ve been trying to tell people about my new art concept called “Pandora”, and it creeps me out that everytime I mention that word, most would probably say something like, “oh, are you gonna paint the planet?” or “mmmm…isn’t it gonna be a theft on intellectual property?”

Thanks a lot James Cameron.

I was referring to the Greek Pandora. You know, the girl with the box? You don’t? Well let me tell you of a story long long ago, in a land far far away.

After Zeus reigned on Olympus as the mighty god in charge, he created humans, which he despised bitterly because he knew that one day mankind would overthrow him and ravage the Earth with their destructive nature. Back then, humans were only men. Men with their egos and their nature to control whatever they could lay their hands on.

Prometheus, an old Titan, was fond of these humans and loved them. He cared for them so much that against Zeus’ will he stole “fire” from Olympus and gave it to the humans. Now they can keep warm and cook their meals.

Angered, the cunning king of the gods devised a scheme to curse these wretched humans. 

He made a different kind of human, sculpted in the image of the beautiful goddess Aphrodite. He named his creation “woman” and gave her the name Pandora.

Into Pandora, he gifted many traits that would be the very essence of womanhood, like beauty, charm, eloquence, seductiveness, wit, intuition, nurturing, love, and most of all, curiosity.

He gave her one last gift, which was a box that she was told never to open, and sent her into Earth, among men, whom admired her immediately. 

Prometheus was well aware of Zeus’ evil, cunning ways and decided not to fall for her. His brother, Epimetheus did, however, and took Pandora as his wife.

The cunning god knew that she will one day give in to her curiosity and open the box….and finally, they day came when she did.

Out from the box flew all sorts of calamity, disaster, and evil which the world and mankind have never seen or heard before. Greed, anger, hunger, drought, murder. Every sort of evil spewed out into the world.

Horrified, Pandora slammed the box shut again, hoping that she had not spilled all of its contents. It seemed emptied out, though.

Her curiosity gave way again when she decided to take a look into it to see if the box was indeed empty, and as she opened it, out flew a figure of a butterfly. That was the last of its contents!

Frightened, Pandora sat still. Her heart racing as the butterfly flew gracefully toward her, gratefully and said, “Thank you, Pandora, for setting me free. My name is Hope”.

Now you know, kids. This is kind of like the Greek version of the story of Eve. 

There are many mysteries in life. Life itself is one big mystery, and we humans are cursed with this natural drive to seek out the truth and expose these mysteries. It’s part of what makes us human. The urge to discover.

But we tend to be greedy with our curiosity and want to know everything.

But…is that what you really want? What you really need? Do we need to know absolutely the truth behind everything so compelling?

Because, if there is nothing left for us to try to discover, this natural drive we hold deep within our souls disappears. And so does a big chunk of what makes us human…

What is left there in life? We might as well be dead.

Seeking truth and closure is a never-ending journey. Our minds are at a constant war with this emotion. But finding truth comes with its consequences. As Pandora learned the hard way as she gave in to her curiosity and opened her box.

Some mysteries should be left at that. Being a mystery. To be talked about, debated about; to give each of us our own path and understanding. 

Just for the sake of living. Just for the sake of being human.

So…will you open the box?