21st Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Artistic
In Search of Lost Time

This image is part of a series that emerges from the need to reflect on life based on a commitment to a slower time, as opposed to speed, to that current desire to consume everything superficially and quickly. In Search of Lost Time is the title of one of the most important works of universal literature, not only for its reflection on time but also for other thematic issues that can be analyzed in it, which is why I used that title. as a starting point to develop my own concern for this concept, its relationship with humanity and with my own life. This being so, this work is then an invitation to return to the contemplation of things, to the closeness, observation and analysis not only of life experiences, but also of feelings and thoughts. In relation to the above, the snail is then presented as the main symbolic element and axis that gives meaning to the rest of the elements arranged in each composition. This works as that icon that represents introspection as a need for change, the urgency to slow down, intellectuality, spiritual protection, reflection on what we call house or home, meditation, tranquility and healing, among many other things relevant to ancient cultures such as the Egyptian and to psychiatrists of the stature of Carl Jung who used the physiognomy of the snail to explain the correct way to interpret dreams. Finally, the symbolism of the snail becomes a possibility to analyze my life experiences, my thoughts, cultural situations and even those things that I still do not understand or do not know how to explain.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 03.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2023
Photo Location: Medellín, Colombia
Camera: Canon EOS 60D
Copyright: © Óscar Arcila