* SOLD Original 36 x 48 Acrylic on board (2″ deep)
Commissioned
Click on Pic to enlarge
Might make into a print… if interested in a print version, please let me know.
Description of the Phoenix Dragon, Yin Yang motif:
The concept of yin and yang originates in ancient Chinese Philosophy and, metaphysics which describes two primal opposing but complementary forces found in all things in the universe. Yin, the darker element, is passive, dark, feminine, downward-seeking, and corresponds to the night; yang, the brighter element, is active, light, masculine, upward-seeking and corresponds to the day.
The pair probably goes back to ancient agrarian religion; it exists in confucianism, and it is prominent in Taoism. Yin and yang are complementary opposites rather than absolutes. Most forces in nature can be broken down into its respective yin and yang states, and the two are usually in movement rather than held in absolute stasis.
The other aspect to this design is the phoenix and dragon motif. Also very popular, it’s true meaning is also often shrouded in ignorance.
The motif of the dragon and phoenix was born in China, where the two represented the emperor and empress, respectively.
The dragon, among other things, is a symbol of creativity, good fortune, and masculinity. The phoenix is a symbol of beauty, good luck, and the feminine. It is the bird that rises from the ashes of its own death. Together, the two empower a meaning similar to that of the Yin Yang, as a balance of opposites.
The world exists as a balance. Even the most basic laws of physics state it: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; what goes up must come down. In all things, there is a balance; therefore, everything that exists must be in balance to some other thing. Hence the notion, there is nothing “evil” or “wrong” in the world, just different forces, or actions and consequences.
I’ve named this painting “The Sacred Game”, as that is how I view our existence. We strive to do good, and we seek the light, but in this human experience we cannot escape occasional negative aspects. It’s part of the experience, or “game”. It’s what we do with those negative experiences, and what we chose to take from them, which defines the quality of the game. We would never understand what feeling “good” is, without having the opposite experience of feeling “bad”. So, is it really “bad” after all?
As an Artist, I appreciate dark shadows which create great contrasts to allow light to be recognized as such. Without contrast, a painting would appear washed out, rather uninteresting. But when there’s a healthy contrast, it brings a painting “to life”. (Much the same with music with the balance of major and minor chords.) The balance of light & dark create a story, which is experienced in life, not just on canvas.