Self, 12 x 48, Oil on Canvas
Other, 12 x 48, Oil on Canvas
Self and Other were the 3rd and 4th paintings of the Me Series of long, horizontal, psychologically charged works. As such they shared the same formal concerns as The Great Outdoors, earlier on the timeline.
This pair of compositions was a play on the idea of self-portrait, with a goal of exploring love and relationships. Here, two, overt personalities were portrayed in terms of both abstract and realistic, or inner and outer states, though none were assumed to accurately depict what was or was not expressed in combination. One could ask whether the ideal relationship fits a certain form, or if the interaction of two wholes is conceivable or possible at all. It's almost impossible to look at these images and not see the potential for volatility as well as harmony. At the same time, it is hard not to wonder if true connection can be expected in the face of highly charged, ever-changing lives and forces.
Obviously, these are not typical Love paintings, though they carry that kind of weight. Rather they are glimpses of reality forged and wrought in the crucible of love itself, and as such only begin to suggest the depth, breadth and range of personal feelings involved.
