Oppositions
by Farley Breen

This artwork is composed of acrylic paint and black ink.

The work tells a story.
A mother and father stand left and right respectively, framing the silhouette of a grown child.
The mother possesses two faces, each in representation of mixed emotions.
The once young child's voyage through life up until this point is represented by the coloured ropes to which a strong hand grasps, this is the hand of the child, swinging through his life's hurdles, with only some strength in the ropes supported by the ground on which his parents stand.
Note the fact that the rope from which he holds onto at this point bears no connection to his parents but to his self-image, his silhouette.
The silhouette does not show which way the figure is facing, whether he is moving forwards or backwards is not clear to the viewer, this represents the uncertainty of where life leads, and which choices are right or wrong.
The composition also creates an animal form, an animal which represents the child's darker emotions, fear, anger, disappointment, frustration.
The mother and father figures both posses arms, their arms are representative of their personalities.
The mother pushes forward a small blue figure, showing the openness of the woman in regard to her emotions, particularly sadness.
The father holds back a bright yellow figure, showing that he is a very withdrawn man, although whilst his introverted personality and hostile appearance may hide it, he has a kind and understanding soul.