True power lies not in the movement of the legs, but in the flight of the mind and the ability to see the truth hidden beneath the surface.
Inspired by the mysterious character of Bran Stark in Game of Thrones, this idea leads me to one of life's deepest questions: Does true power lie in the ability to change the world, or in the ability to see it beyond what it appears to be?
After losing his ability to walk, Bran enters a world of perception and awareness that transcends the ordinary boundaries of time, space, and human experience. He reminds us that what appears to be a limitation can sometimes become a doorway to a different kind of understanding. Perhaps, to see certain truths, we must first turn our eyes away from what we have always known.
For me, faces are much the same. Every face is more than a collection of lines, colors, and physical features. It holds a hidden world of experiences, memories, fears, and perceptions that cannot easily be seen. When I paint a face, I am not simply observing the appearance of a person. I am searching for something concealed behind their gaze.
Perhaps truth, contrary to what we believe, is not always something we can see directly. Sometimes, we must move beyond the surface, pause for a moment, and allow the mind to discover what the eyes alone cannot perceive.
Ultimately, perhaps the greatest power of a human being lies not in controlling the world, but in understanding it—in seeing what others pass by without noticing, and in discovering the worlds hidden within the silence of a gaze.
Sincerely, Hossein Rishehri
Thank you all for your support.