Life in Shell

Laurie Lipton,"Facing up to Reality"

The woman is involving in a fantastic world she creates, where is full of happiness and grace. She images she is a princess living in the castle. Standing in the balcony in the afternoon, looking outside, and enjoying sunshine, she expects her life is simple and happy without any annoying things. In the last two years, she spent almost all time sitting in front of the painting and imaging she was the main character of the tale. It is the way for her to escape from pain and reality.

The painting is like a wall, which separates the woman from the real world, but it just is an illusion. The painting is like a door, which resists all problems, but it doesn’t mean those problems don’t exist. The painting is like a shell where she thought it was her belonging, but unfortunately she is not a pearl. She is used to living in this world, which makes her feel safe, but if she addicts on it, it will become a jail, she will probably never go out.

It is the time for her to pick up courage, leave the chair, get up, and look around even though the world in painting is better than that in reality. When she leaves the chair, she will realize the difference between imagine and reality, taste pain and bitter again, and miss the life in shell. However, it is the real world, including sour, sweet, bitter, spicy and pain. If she has courage to taste it, she is able to understand what is sweet after experiencing bitter.