The Bound Man
Repression keeps anxiety arousing impulses, feelings, and memories locked away in the unconscious depths of the mind. Are they bound away out of fear, or for healing?
The Bound Man belongs to the following groups:
All Out Emotion, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Art Inspired by Dreams, Back In Black ( sorry~NO PHOTOGRAPHY), Core [C.O.R.E], Designers United, Freedom to Shine, Pulp Noir, Self as Other and The Art of Pain Available for sale asGreeting Cards and Matted Prints
butchart
the 2nd face looking down … with the apearance of a skull is quit haunting….. i believe repression is like a thorn.. the skin may heal over.. but eventually it festers….... better to cut the offender out cleanly from the beginning….......b
Brad MacDuff replied
The thing about repression though is that’s it’s not typically voluntary. If there is a thorn, there is no memory of being pricked, and no knowledge of where to cut – cutting at random is self destructive. Like chopping trees to find the forest.
lianne
I can’t say what the answer is – repression eventually takes its toll, even years down the road when you think you’re well healed. But venting isn’t always safe either nor is it always possible to know whom to trust. As Butch has indicated cutting the offender out is probably best but far far easier said than done. So we muddle through until we’re ready to learn the lessons from that which we repressed. Vicious circle if you ask me – lol. The image is provocative and evocative – and yes it has not so much a haunting but a haunted quality about it Brad.
Brad MacDuff replied
Hi Lianne – I agree with you. It’s a conundrum, and one we’re typically unaware of… so we muddle until the lessons make themselves clear.
mimi yoon
brad macduff… you know i love it… i will take your word for it and won’t dwell on your description or look for hidden messages… powerful painting !!
p.s. hope your little monkeys keep you awake~ : )
p.p.s. love how you’ve created 3d effect with the spray of particles and their shadow… they appear floating…
Brad MacDuff replied
Mimi, thank you – I’m glad you like the texture… I fought to remove it, bet ended up just going with it. If there are messages hidden, they’re hidden from me as well! The description comes from too much reading and too little sleep… and of course the monkeys keep me awake – if I fall asleep they’ll eat me! : )
jtaft
This image is simply poetic, and i love what you have said in the caption. I think they are bound away out of self protection and fear. But I will be thinking about that now:)
Brad MacDuff replied
Thanks Jessica. I always thought it was protection and fear as well, then I started looking at the bindings as bandages… an aid to the healing process. Perhaps some memories are better left alone until one is strong enough to unbind the wrappings…
jtaft
I never thought of it like that, the idea that our mind represses memories while they are too painful for the lessons and growth to come through. very interesting take on protectionism..
Helene Kippert
I agree they are there to protect us until we can face what we’ve hidden from ourselves. When we are strong enough the wrappings unbind themselves and our task is to bear witness to the pain beneath until it changes into something else. Your image is a wonderful visual metaphor for this process.
Cindy Olivier
freaky, well done dude
Phil Eckert
powerfully good
Michelle Pullen
Fantastic, just love , room for interprtation.
Brad MacDuff replied
Thank you Michelle – interpret away!
hsien-ku
very beautiful work
Brad MacDuff replied
Thank you. I must have a dozen versions of this guy, but this one’s my favorite.