Saren Dobkins - Original 'The Thirsty Dove'

I came across a newspaper article about a man whose dwelling had been deemed illegal, so his home was destroyed. The photograph showed him offering a thirsty dove a drink of water; an act of great compassion amidst such personal tragedy. I felt this to be a metaphor for the current conflict over land and our most valuable resource, water. I referenced the story of the dove that returned with an olive branch as evidence of land, but now we need fresh water. But how does a bird bring back evidence she has found water? It falls upon rational, compassionate humans to cooperate and help our fellow creatures instead. The dove is a symbol for peace, and I placed a soldier and an ordinary man/woman with a dove between them. Together they offer the dove water as a way of uniting the commonality of us all. Our basic human needs of shelter, water and kindness.

Oil on Canvas

89 x 89cm