'In Transition': a cubist transgender portrait featuring fragmented faces by Dirk van der Ven

Experience a vulnerable quest for true identity, in which the raw fault lines of transformation blend powerfully with the non-judgemental blossoming of nature.

The visual perspective immediately compels a penetrating encounter with a fragmented face. A masculine bridge of the nose and a powerful central eye flow seamlessly into soft, feminine, almond-shaped contours and sensual lips. This anatomical fusion illustrates the intense quest for an identity in transition. The geometric shards symbolise the struggle of letting go, whilst the surrounding flora whispers that every form of being is permitted to exist.

Explosive shades of warm sun-yellow, deep purple and vibrant green lend this work a vibrant dynamism. The light does not fall from a single traditional source, but refracts subtly, as through a prism, onto each individual mosaic surface. This three-dimensional faceting effect creates a constant sense of movement within the composition. The bright hues of the petals contrast sharply with the cooler shadows on the face, reinforcing the inner longing for true expression.

Clean, black contour lines bind the cubist forms together into a harmonious and powerful whole. The flowing lines of the organic plant world break through the rigid geometry, causing the work to radiate a hopeful and healing energy. This image fascinatingly depicts an inner struggle which the viewer is free to interpret entirely for themselves. After all, abstract art is all about personal interpretation; even when the artist provides a meaning, the final interpretation remains with the viewer. What is striking is that this is essentially what the work is about. Do not let others determine the truth, but experience the joy of self-determination. This gives the composition a universal expressiveness in which everyone can find a personal connection.