"High on Hope" by Top Kabana

"High on Hope" (109x75cm). Top Kabana. 2024. Acrylic on fine grain paper. Original Piece.

"High on Hope"  depicts a city devastated by war, where flames and projectiles unleash relentless destruction. On the horizon, cannons fire while a destroyed house symbolizes how the horrors of conflict affect both sides, always targeting the innocent. At the center, a human figure floats languidly in the sky, with a missile piercing their chest and carrying their heart towards a ruined room, where a bed seems to wait for the return of someone who can no longer occupy it. This contrast underscores the loss of intimacy and personal space amid chaos.

Emerging from the city's ruins are two arms that encapsulate human duality. One holds a flower, a symbol of kindness and hope, while the other wields a knife, representing violence and despair. This juxtaposition emphasizes the coexistence of humanity's best and worst traits in times of conflict.

On a wall dividing the scene, inscriptions such as "Peace" and "Children" appear, calling for awareness and hope. These words remind us that even in the darkest moments, there are efforts to preserve humanity.

The phrase "High on Hope" allows for several interpretations. Literal elevation: the floating figure symbolizes hope rising above destruction, something unbreakable that persists despite the devastation. Hope as a drug: the character seems "high" on hope, suggesting a surreal disconnection from reality, an illusion born from clinging to positivity in a hostile environment. Hope in ruins: the city itself represents hope, constantly destroyed by opposing forces. This interpretation offers a more pessimistic view, where hope appears fragile and besieged. The artwork serves as a reminder that the innocent always pay the highest price in conflicts, while hope oscillates between resistance, illusion, and loss.