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Survival of the fittest

36"x24" Oil on Linen. Depiction of how humans have conquered nature (wooden box), and animals of the moutains (ram), animals of great landspeed (deer), of flight (owl), have domesticated some preditors (cat) while hunting or fending off large preditors with tools (bear skull with knife) but despite how elevated above the other forms of nature we have put ourselves, over time (melted candle) the adaptable species survives (8 cockroaches, all in hiding spots).

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Portfolios: Hans Guerin Portfolio

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Comment by Resident Curator on November 7, 2015 at 8:51am: Curator’s Comments:

Of course Survival of the Fittest intends to be a macabre commentary on humans as the most dangerous predators despite the smooth and classically painted still life. The swath of crimson fabric as backdrop conjures other Baroque Vanitas, and symbolically accentuates the reference to impassioned violence and inevitable bloodshed. But allowing a larger portion of negative “empty” wall space in the upper left quadrant serves as more than a visual rest in the piece by injecting a meditative emptiness. Rather than continue to emphasize the professed human grandeur of the elevated human skull, the open space takes an even higher position. I find this visually arresting and conceptually affecting. Returning to the stylistic manner in which the work is executed, I appreciate the smoothly glazed surface mastered in many of your other works. It is especially poignant when one considers the artist’s hand is visible removed from the creation of this edifying work.