Keys to Lasting Youth

The sculpture is made from a massive ring of keys, a cane and pink tassel. Some of the keys are old and weathered, while others are new and unused. From the handle a set of pink tassels are attached. The ring of keys is a heavy mass that hangs from the handle. The cane represents the elder human form and the keys are the symbols of the process of aging. The pink tassel is the symbol of youth. The combination of these two contrasting objects, the cane and the tassel, represent the conflict between old age and youth and the struggle that comes with aging. The keys represent the goals that an individual has accomplished or wishes to accomplish in their lifetime. At the end of a person’s life, they will look back on all the things they have done and the things that they wanted to do, but failed to do. In this sculpture, the used keys represent all the goals that an individual has reached and the unused keys represent all the goals that have yet to be reached. “The title of the sculpture, its framing, and the pink ribbons allude to the Japanese folk belief that the color pink wards off the evil spirits of old age. This startlingly innovative piece captures the essence of the human condition. The keys are symbolic of our aspirations, the cane of our earthly failings, and the pink ribbons of the hope for a long, healthy, and productive life. When combined, the three elements form a striking image of the struggle between youth and old age.