Kontrast with sapwood and heartwood

This Nativity is carved from a fallen plum tree. The beginning of decay makes the interesting lines and colors, same as in autumn time the end of the year colors the leaves. Yes, birth is always between death and life and something has to fall for something else to rise. And there is more to it. The outer side shows the light color of the sapwood symbolizing the visible, the daytime and the light, the inner side of the tree is in dark brown and reddish tones, symbolizing the invisible, the unknown, the night. So you can look at it from  both sides.