Artist's commentary
The Beginning of Ambition
People said that this tree was going to eventually rot. The branches and leaves that were supposed to be their glorious lineage were all getting cut down, as if getting pruned.
And thus the man had but no choice but to plant a new seed. It would be a far cry from calling it hope, or some other admirable quality. It may be best to call it a shot at payback against those who tried to cut him down.
The seed will eventually grow under the watch of the golden tree. The man's gaze was set ahead.