Original artwork description:

Time is the wisest of all things that are, for it brings everything to light.
(Talete)
The work "The Stones of Time" (2025), created by Maurizio Puglisi with ink, watercolor, and brushpen on Canson paper, explores the theme of time as a force revealing truth, inspired by Thales's quote: "Time is the wisest of all things that are, for it brings everything to light." Through stylized elements and a fluid use of color, the artist creates a meditative image that invites reflection on the ephemeral and illuminating nature of time. The Human Figure in Meditative Position The central figure, stylized and perhaps female (with gathered hair and a slender body), is seated in a yoga-like pose, with legs crossed and one arm raised. This symbol represents introspection and inner research. In a symbolic context, it evokes the human being as an observer of time: not a passive spectator, but an active entity who "lifts" time to contemplate it. The balanced pose suggests harmony and resilience, as if the figure is meditating on the lessons accumulated over the course of life, aligning with Thales's idea of ​​time as a revealer of wisdom.
The Stacked Stones (Cairn) The base of the work is a stack of flat, irregular stones, on which the figure sits. Symbolically, the stones represent stability and the accumulation of time: each layer could symbolize a moment, an era, or a past experience, overlapping to form a solid yet precarious structure. In cultural contexts (such as Zen traditions or mountain trails), cairns are path markers, symbols of guidance and precarious balance against the forces of nature. Here, they emphasize how time is constructed from unstable fragments, yet capable of sustaining human reflection. The earthy color of the stones contrasts with the ethereal background, emphasizing earthly roots against the abstract nature of time.

The Raised Mechanical Clock The most iconic element is the large mechanical clock, with a circular dial and visible gears, held aloft by the figure like a trophy or an offering. Symbolically, the clock embodies the human measurement of time: not natural, cyclical time (like the sun or the seasons), but artificial, mechanical, and linear time, imposed by society. Raising it upward suggests an act of elevation or revelation—as if the figure were "bringing to light" the hidden mechanisms of time, in keeping with Thales's quote. The exposed gears may allude to the complexity and inexorability of time, which "uncovers everything" by revealing hidden truths, but also to its human fragility (the clock is a mechanism that can stop).

The Ethereal Background and Colors The gradient background in pastel blues and pinks evokes a twilight sky or a dreamlike atmosphere, symbolizing transcendence and infinity. This contrast with the earthly elements (stones and figure) represents the dualism between finite time (measured by the clock) and eternal time, suggesting a transition to enlightenment. The impressionistic use of colors—fluid and undefined—symbolizes the fleeting nature of time: not rigid, but changeable and subjective, like a fading memory.

The work symbolizes time as a wise and revealing entity, capable of bringing balance and truth through contemplation. With my mixed style, blending stylized realism and abstraction, I invite the viewer to reflect on their relationship with time: not as a consuming enemy, but as an enlightening ally. The small size (21 x 29 cm) and the unique nature of the work enhance the intimacy of this meditation, making it a personal invitation to wisdom.


inks,watercolor,brushpen on canson paper 250 g/m
shipping in a cardboard box
-The artwork listed are unique, original drawings and not prints, signed and dated by the artist.
Drawings is signed and dated by the artist as well as accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity.
Multiple purchases of the same size will be shipped together, where possible, and any excess shipping costs will be refunded after purchase

Materials used:

ink,brushpen,watercolor

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