Duality

Often when you really look at people, and I don't mean looking at what someone looks like, I don't mean looking at what people are wearing. No, I mean looking at what people are like. Then you can recognize a certain kind of duality in many people. You can see an interaction between their rational side and their instinctive side. The instinctive side is usually suppressed, that's what society demands of us. We are all supposed to be rational. But we all balance between control and freedom, we all have to balance between thinking and feeling. And this duality, that fascinates me. Society demands that we are usually in the controlled rational thinking half, that is the side of us that seems to be most valued. But it is precisely that instinctive, feeling, natural side of us that is so fascinating. That is the part of us that makes us unique as human beings.

When I thought about this more deeply a few weeks ago I got the idea to paint a diptych. Two wooden panels. One half of a human face on one panel, and on the other panel I wanted to paint half of an animal face.

The idea of ​​this diptych is to symbolize that duality. The human face represents the rationality that we are forced into every day because society demands it of us. For me, the fox symbolizes that natural side, full of uninhibitedness and freedom, that we could and would perhaps embrace more.

The Fox

Why a fox? Foxes have always intrigued me. They are animals with an intense charm and freedom of movement, that effortlessly adapt to their environment. They can survive both in the city and in the wilderness and retain their elusive character. It seems as if they possess the secret of balance between the known and the unknown. And that is a quality that we as humans can also cherish.

In addition to the fact that foxes are beautiful and intriguing animals in my opinion, there is more meaning behind them. In many cultures, the fox symbolizes intelligence, flexibility, and a touch of mystery. He embodies a natural wisdom, but also a playfulness that contrasts with the controlled way we humans often go through life. Foxes are observers, alert and intuitive, and I believe they can remind us to be open to our surroundings and trust our instincts a little more.

I tried to give the fox a sharp look, which was both inviting and challenging. The idea is that the fox challenges you to discover your true self. That more instinctive side of us that is connected to nature and is not afraid of the unknown. The fox not only represents resourcefulness but also the power that comes from connecting with our natural environment.

Duality in Man

Next to the fox is a human face, calm and reflective, which forms a subtle contrast to the expressive gaze of the fox. This face reflects that side of us that wants to understand and control everything. And this may raise the question: how much space do we give to our instinctive side? How often do we dare to trust our feelings, without wanting to analyze everything?

We live in a world where we try to explain and control a lot, and yet there is so much value to be found in simply experiencing, without always looking for an answer. The human face reminds us that there needs to be a balance between thinking and feeling, between our reason and our instincts. It invites us to embrace that balance instead of wanting to suppress everything.

Connection with Nature

In the background of the work, I have incorporated leaves and branches, which emphasize the connection with nature. The warm, natural colors in autumn shades reinforce this feeling and remind us of the cycle of life. We are just as much a part of that cycle as any other living being, but we often seem to forget that. Too often we choose to manipulate or even destroy nature, instead of living together in harmony.

I believe that we can learn a lot from the fox and other animals that effortlessly adapt to their environment without disturbing it. Nature has so much to offer us and reminds us to want to control less and appreciate more what is already there. This painting is a reminder to me that we should listen more to our instincts, that we should not see nature as something separate, but as a part of ourselves.

Not Finished Yet

Both panels are not finished yet ... I am still working on both, but when I put them next to each other on my easel today to check if they still matched what I had in mind, I could not resist taking a picture. And since I had already taken the picture, I decided to write a short blog to give you guys another update on my painting adventures. Once I started writing, I quickly wrote more than I would expect ... so the short blog became a bit longer. Lol.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to let me know in the comments what you think.

Happy Monday!