#23912 Juan Fernandez Bejar

The composition presents two figures rendered in a muted palette of pinks, creams, and grays against a flat, neutral background. Both appear humanoid, though their forms are stylized and lack naturalistic detail; they resemble dolls or mannequins more than living beings. The figure on the left is dressed in what appears to be an archaic style of clothing – a high-necked ruff encircles its neck, and it wears short breeches and black shoes. Its arm is raised in a gesture that could be interpreted as greeting or offering. A funnel is positioned near this figure’s lower body, connected by a thin cord.
The second figure stands adjacent to the first, but is significantly altered. It is missing its head and upper torso; a length of rope hangs from where the head should be, suggesting severance and loss. The exposed interior reveals a hollow space within the form. This figure’s posture is more rigid than that of the other, contributing to an overall sense of stillness and detachment.
The floor upon which they stand is patterned with geometric shapes – a grid of diamond-like forms in varying shades of gray – which further emphasizes the artificiality of the scene. The lighting is even and diffuse, casting no shadows and flattening the perspective.
Subtexts within this work seem to revolve around themes of identity, fragmentation, and control. The juxtaposition of the intact figure with its dismembered counterpart suggests a commentary on vulnerability and the potential for destruction or manipulation. The funnel and cord attached to the first figure imply an imposed process or dependency – a sense that it is being fed or drained in some way. The archaic clothing on one figure could signify tradition, formality, or perhaps even a critique of societal expectations placed upon individuals.
The overall effect is unsettling; the lack of emotional expression combined with the surreal arrangement creates a feeling of unease and invites contemplation about the nature of existence and the forces that shape it.