There is a duality of mood that accompanies the coming and going of the
sun. Commonly associated with human perceptions of positivity, the
sunrise is often related to qualities including life, hope, even glory. In
contrast, the sunset is frequently associated with mankind’s encounter
with bittersweetness, finality, or death.
Both expressions are present in the meeting of day and night, as
darkness is already present when dawn emerges. There is a
metaphorical struggle before the sun wins out, showcased in its peeking
above the planet’s horizon while the shadow of night shrinks away.
At day’s end, it is darkness’ endeavor to overtake the light, taking its
turn to triumph, often with a dazzling and colorful display. In the
process, the sun eventually sinks into the earth, and from it’s invisible
position, continues to send visible radiation into the atmosphere, often
enhancing the environment with a vibrant luminosity. Then, it succumbs.
The traverse of the sun is one of the few phenomena that has manifest
its presence daily since the beginning of earth-time. As such, it has
become the measure of stability and dependability. Beyond this, it
reveals itself as a thing of beauty - not entirely gentle, but with traits
which mirror those of humanity: tranquility, sensuality, even anger,
running the gamut from peace to turbulence.
Though the sunrise and sunset may appear to be disparate entities,
together they mark the passage of time, a universal theme of human
experience. To the proverbial question, “where did the time go?”, one
could answer, as Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” it went with the “sunrise,
sunset”.
The darkened, underexposed sky in these images serves as a dramatic
backdrop for the sunrise/sunset dance, while the saturated, fantastical
color depicts its energy.
Ascending or receding, when sunlight meets dark, time is marked,
moods are set in the sky, and humanity connects with nature. As the
earth turns, one’s sunset is another’s sunrise. In effect, the sun is always
rising.