The Essence of Bravery: Confronting Fear and Embracing Vulnerability

Cosa significa essere coraggiosi?

Essere coraggiosi significa chiamare a raccolta il proprio coraggio di fronte alla paura, alle avversità o all’incertezza. È la forza di affrontare le sfide, sia esterne sia interiori, con resilienza e determinazione. La bravura spesso implica uscire dalla propria zona di comfort, difendere ciò che è giusto e affrontare l’ignoto con uno spirito di convinzione. In definitiva, essere coraggiosi è un percorso profondamente personale di superamento degli ostacoli, di accoglienza della vulnerabilità e di ricerca dell’autenticità nel cammino verso la crescita e il cambiamento positivo.

Questo è lo spirito che ho voluto infondere in questo dipinto, Be Brave. Il soggetto è un’istantanea di una danza vorticosa e inquietante, ispirata all’iconografia della “Danza Macabra”. Demoni, creature fantastiche, animali e esseri umani corrono e danzano insieme, rappresentando l’eterno ciclo di Vita e Morte nella sua bellezza, energia e terrore. Ma il dipinto allude anche a un altro tipo di corsa: quella che tutti noi facciamo contro noi stessi. Dentro ciascuno di noi convivono luce e ombra, e per affrontarle serve un coraggio immenso.

Serve coraggio e umiltà per difenderci in modo equilibrato e per essere autentici, qualunque cosa possano pensare le persone intorno a noi.

Unveiling all the hidden symbols:

LA ZEBRA CON 5 GAMBE

Questa zebra è dolce, di buon carattere ma determinata. Ha cinque gambe perché credo che la gentilezza ti dia una spinta in più, come avere una gamba in più. Per raggiungere i tuoi obiettivi non serve competere con gli altri, basta fare la tua strada, giorno dopo giorno.

Ci arriverai.

DEATH

Death is our companion in this Life, It is an inseparable part of Life. Without it, Life would not be as Life is the absence of Death and Death the absence of Life.
Death is an unknowable status since who gets to know it cannot come back to tell us what they saw. So, we cannot know it. It does not mean that we will not.

FLAMINGO

Flamingos represent BEAUTY, ELEGANCE, FULFILLMENT. Almost everyone loves them and they do not mind genuinely showing off and sharing their good looking appearance. No low-profile for these amazing birds that are bold, powerful and attractive.

FROM THE ABYSS

The fish for me represents our subconscious mind, the most hidden and deepest part of our brain. Inaccessible, secret, apparently silent but always present. More than often runs the game, is responsible for our choices and reactions. It is by your side, but not always in a helpful way: your personal charismatic golden fish in a bowl.

THE NYMPH

The running nymph represents the wilderness inside our soul. It’s everything we cannot domesticate, everything we don’t like of ourself and others. Besides our efforts of choking it, the wild nymph always survives and must be accepted. She is beautiful and fierce, cannot be controlled. That’s why it’s the most scary character in this painting.

THE MONSTER

All the possible monsters run the race for Life. They are our fears, our projections, our obsessions. This has always been the role of the monster: scaring us away from something dangerous, in order to keep us alive. Maybe unhappy but safe. Sometimes they are right, sometimes they are not.

But listening to them is always the right thing to do.

CONFIDENCE OR BOASTFULNESS?

The goose is an aggressive animal, with a strong personality. Sometimes related to shallowness and frivolity, I see it more as a high achiever, determined, adamant. The goose is bold and egocentric, ambitious, tenacious. I wouldn’t get in her way.

A LIGHT IN THE DARK

Fragile but strong. This butterfly to me symbolizes faith and hope.She leads the way in the darkness, even if she cannot see. Just goes ahead, with no hesitation, at an assertive pace. She does not care about the other characters involved. She knows she is the weakest but this awareness does not stop her. She will never fade in the dark, she will proceed relentless as long as there is a road and even when there is not.

UNLOCK YOURSELF

A key pops out of a lock installed in the painting symbolizing our conscious choice: being brave enough to participate in this carousel, trying to do our best. Bravery is not absence of fear but it is the choice you make regardless your fears.

In the midst of light and dark within, the painting calls for immense courage to confront our inner dichotomies. It stands as a testament to the bravery and humility required to authentically navigate the intricate dance of self-discovery. Amidst the symbolic zebras and pink flamingos, this artwork challenges us to embrace authenticity, acknowledging the profound beauty that arises when we confront the depths within.

In short: