Birds of the Subconscious by Jan Keteleer

About "Birds of the Subconscious"

by Jan Keteleer

About the artwork

This surrealistic painting enchants viewers with its rich symbolism and dreamlike composition. A woman’s face, serene yet inquisitive, dominates the canvas, her features partially masked by vivid birds. These avian figures represent freedom, transformation, and the delicate interplay between humanity and nature. Each bird, striking in warm tones of orange, yellow, and red, contributes to the mask-like structure, merging identity with the wild elegance of the natural world.
Surrounding this central figure is a fantastical landscape bursting with whimsy. The vibrant blue background hosts floating white birds, golden fish, and a distant city skyline. Below, miniature trees, vivid in color and form, bloom alongside a whimsical truck carrying tiny cityscape elements in a transparent container. Everything feels alive and interconnected, blurring the boundaries between the real and the imagined.
Inspired by dreams and the subconscious, the painting invites viewers to reflect on identity, the harmony (and conflict) between nature and humanity, and the limitless space where reality meets fantasy. Its intricate details encourage pause and introspection, offering a unique visual narrative open to interpretation.
The artist merges personal experience with homage to surrealist masters, crafting a piece that feels both timeless and deeply intimate, resonating with a universal sense of wonder and connection.