“Searching for the Truth in Confusing Times” by Artist: Andrea Lee. Dimensions: 10 by 14 inches. Found materials, origami paper, clipart, watercolor, micron pen, pencil crayon, original linocut print. Year: 2025

The Sufi fable of blind men touching an elephant, each describing one part as if it were the whole, was my starting point for this piece. The frames denote limited points of view, the scattered red herrings distractions, and the woman stands frozen by her search for the heart of the matter. Red and blue add a layer of meaning for US viewers for whom the colours convey political affiliation, and the small red and blue frame suggests the possibility of a truth that can be agreed upon.

I intend this piece to point to item #5 in the Authoritarian Regime Survival Guide which describes the lies and distortion that are the norm for authoritarian regimes, and the efforts these regimes make to sedate even our desire to seek truth. Looking beyond what is fed us to see the big picture, and steadfastly discarding alternative facts and post-truths is everyone’s job when fighting authoritarianism. My hope is that this piece is a reminder to viewers to not be fooled, and to persist in the search for truth.

This is an analog collage made from found materials, public domain photographs, origami paper, clipart and hand made pieces including a tiny one-inch square mono-print of an anatomical human heart.