Falling through the Rising Sun is a vibrant and deeply symbolic painting by Colombian artist Stefania Tejada, exploring themes of power, transformation, and the courageous embrace of new ways of life. Set against an immersive backdrop of lush, oversized tropical leaves, a Black woman reclines with serene defiance. She holds flowers entwined around a classical marble bust, symbolizing the burial of outdated ideologies.
The woman’s gesture of bringing flowers to this symbolic grave reflects both a mourning and a rebirth: it is an offering to the past, while simultaneously planting the seeds of a new vision. The intertwined flowers at her side, reminiscent of embryos, represent the genesis of hope and the emergence of a more conscious, interconnected world.
Dominating the scene, a vividly colored macaw stretches its wings, embodying freedom, vitality, and the vibrant spirit of transformation. Its presence mirrors the artist’s call for open-mindedness and a reconnection with nature and heritage.
The title itself draws on the profound symbolism of the "rising sun" in Japanese culture, where it signifies renewal, life, and the dawn of new beginnings. In this context, the rising sun becomes a metaphor for spiritual awakening and the courageous act of letting go of inherited beliefs, making space for more inclusive, regenerative ways of existing in the world.
Through this striking visual narrative, Stefania Tejada invites viewers to reflect on cycles of decay and rebirth — an invitation to fall through the illusions of obsolete structures and rise with a renewed, conscious vision.