In Coniferous Gem, the images of the cone and the mythological creatures represent the artist's desire to create a language of archetypal symbols analogous to those in the prehistoric wall paintings at Lascaux. The conic form, similar to a spiral, suggests Fibonacci's mathematical progression (1,1,2,3,5,8...), a formula Merz has experimented with since 1970 to express the ideas of constant change and organic infinity. The cone can also be seen as a 'lance' of light penetrating diagonally across the composition in a manner that recalls the speed and violence associated with the style of the Italian Futurists.