Yin Yang

1” diameter

1990s

oil on paper, acrylic, brass, gold leaf, gutta percha

The smallest of my paintings, this was a commissioned work for a friend who had discovered a late nineteenth-century daguerreotype enclosure that was round, and made from the earliest form of plastic.  An albino bat hovers over an African American girl, and a black bat flies above a Caucasian girl, with complementary colors playing an additional role.  This circular work references the historical Chinese symbol, the "Taijitu," representing eternity, the continuous cycle of change, and the balance of opposing forces.  Compositionally devised to make effective use of its shape, this painting can be viewed from any vantage point, depending on the prerogatives of each individual.  The exterior top and bottom are embossed with an identical design, which I painted and gold leafed.  I’ve shown the top lid here.  This small painting was later shown inside the "Kaaba" installation in 2001.  

A picture of "Kaaba" appears below, and viewers can click on it to read more about it and to enlarge it in the Exhibits/Installations section.