H O M E
Puzzle
Senay Ramada
The painting “Puzzle” unfolds a visual narrative of identity as a complex, multilayered whole. The central image of the deer — an ancient symbol of strength, spirituality, and the connection between the earthly and the cosmic — stands calm yet charged with hidden energy. Its antlers rise like antennas, linking the inner world to the universal order.
The golden planetary signs, lunar phases, and astrological symbols surrounding it suggest the influence of fate, time, and cosmic cycles on human nature. They do not provide definite answers; instead, they remind us that we are shaped by forces we do not always fully understand.
The puzzle fragments scattered across the deer’s body are a key element of the composition. They symbolize missing pieces of the self — experiences, traumas, memories, or roles that shape identity. Some pieces are dark, others are entirely absent, suggesting that wholeness does not mean perfection, but rather the acceptance of imperfection.
The contrast between the dark, almost cosmic background and the golden elements creates a sense of the sacred. The painting does not offer a finished story; instead, it invites the viewer to discover their own “puzzle” within it — to recognize which pieces are missing, which are in place, and which are still searching for meaning.
“Puzzle” is a meditative work about the search for wholeness, about the balance between instinct and consciousness, between destiny and free will.
Senay Ramada 