Allegory of a dream

Firstly I think this piece is pretty awesome and inspiring. Taking the artists perspective on it, that the balloons represent dreams gives it a whole new meaning, the balloons with fingers then are dreams taking form, and the symbol of a hand reaching out makes perfect sense. Interestingly the old man is not interested in the dreams that are being actualised, but rather has taken interest in the source of the dreams, the barrel. So in a sense we are seeing a mature man looking for the source, and possibly facing the prospect of life after death and the larger questions.