Withering peaks?

Summit by Kris Martin @ Saatchi Gallery

Eight-part rock installation, each crowned with a small paper cross at the very top.
I found myself drawn back to this particular exhibition, at first I didn't really spot the paper markers, but when you do it really does open up the contexts and how we percieve things.

Martin himself says that the charged symbol offers a range of meanings - 'of a man conquering the limits of awe-in-spring nature, of a civilisation conquering another civilisation, of death conquering all...'

I believe in the first commentary, of human ambition and man conquering the limits. The visual contrast between the large rock-like boulders and the fragility of the small (human) figure is a powerful combination, yet the marker always sit's perfectly still at the very peak.

Also what was intersting to note was Martin's metaphorical stance on the conceptual installation itself, 'the top is nice when you haven't reached it, but once you get there, the potential is gone. Dreams are what keep people going.'

What's left once the seemingly unconquerably has been conquered?

Do our dreams wither away?