Fight or Flight. 2009
Finally this one is done! I'm really happy to be finished with it. As with anything, it turned out different than I was shooting for, but I'm hoping it's just me being anal and you guys will see what I was wanting to convey, haha.
This series was designed to be put together side by side (to tell a whole story) or to stand alone to make their own statements.
Part II: "Flight"
Each part holds both a literal and symbolic meaning. In reality "fight or flight" is a survival mechanism, and marks the moment between living or dying, or what 'stance' one will take with a life changing decision. Likewise, in a human sense, we can either fight to hold back a force, or we can act out agressively ("fight"). Or we can run and never look back ("flight")- we can be escapists.
In many cultures, the crow takes on a negative conotation and can thus be forboding or can be seen as a "survivor," scavenging on what he finds. Carrying a razor blade, he, in a sense, holds or presents the choice of life or death; of escapism and/or destruction.
Part I: "Fight"
The woman, facing towards the wind, is left to choose between "fight"-- (the force of "fighting" against the wind) or "flight"-- (being blown away).
I want this piece to show contrasting/contradicting feelings. One person can look at this and see the hope, the positive choices. Someone else could look at it and see defeat, self injury, etc. As with most of my paintings, I don't want to convey just the happy or sad-- I want the viewer to feel the tension. I want them to feel like they're standing on the edge of their choice and deciding what course they will take. Likewise, this piece bears its own personal meanings for myself, in it's literal and representational devices.
