Look, Up in the Sky! It’s a Bird. It’s a Plane? It’s Us! Above the 9–5

This work explores the tension between survival and freedom. In the foreground, a man counts his earnings atop a bus — a symbol of the daily hustle and, the pursuit of stability. Above him, three children rest effortlessly on a cloud, suspended in a moment of pure imagination and possibility. A plane cuts across the sky, hinting at migration, movement, and the distances many travel in search of opportunity.

Together, these elements form a layered reflection on escape, memory, and permission. The man represents the weight of adulthood and responsibility, while the children embody a freedom that often fades with time. The plane sits between these worlds — a reminder of journeys taken, homes left behind, and futures still unfolding.

By placing these figures in the same sky, the work asks a simple but profound question: When did we stop believing we could fly?