I suggest a great reference book on stating with Big Ideas
"Teaching Meaning in Artmaking" Sydney R. Walker, 2001
Big Ideas from this book
Identity - key concepts derived from big ideas (reinvention, stereotypes,
change, physical, search ,status, insecurity)
Power (excess, scarcity, privilege, fear, inclusion and exclusion)
Nature and Culture
human emotion
This book is full of them and contemporary artists who work with them
Identity - Chuck Close, Deborah Butterfield
Power - Barbara Kruger, Leon Golub