Thanks for the feedback!
The tux is not going down the hill! The tux is diving in the Ocean! Tux is surrounded by bubbles! The idea was to depict Tux enjoying the freedom, metaphor for being away from the sackels of Corporation!
As you said earlier, rising sun depicts progress/new day for Linux!
Also, the stroke doesn’t end at the border of the sun, it continues in the dark/light! The dark/light background depicts uncharted territory! So, the extended stroke signifies Tux bringing light, warmth/comfort like the rising sun!