Gentleness & Power (2024, diptych) was submitted to the Nagasaki Art Museum for the 2024 Peace Exhibition. This is the first of more reflections on two juxtaposed traits. They appear as contrasts, or even contradictions, to each other. Can one be gentle and powerful? Do we see one as the weakness of the other? Gentleness is a weakness to power and power is a weakness to gentleness? Rather, can these traits operate concurrently which fulfills the other? Or, it’s the combination of two polarizing traits that achieves a balanced quality which is enables a person to affect good, right, and benevolent change. Gentleness accompanied with humility, meekness, and calm. Power accompanied with assertion, confidence, and ability. One without the other may lead to passivity while the opposite might lead to abuse. How difficult is it to bear both traits and not to feel one is compromising the other? Cultivating both equally, feeling secure in one’s power with gentleness and strength in one’s gentleness with power, is a complex necessity for good character.
I find the white rhinoceros symbolizes this quality of juxtaposition. The subject of my piece is Blake who resides at a rhinoceros conservation in Texas. I visited him, got up close to place my hand on him and stroke him. He was 4000 lbs (and growing). His body was packed with no soft spots that I felt. His hide was armor. The sway of his mass could’ve knocked me over, if it were not for the safety poles separating us. Yet, he was delightfully eating grass as I pet him. There was no fear, aggression, or malice in him. He was a peaceful creature with tremendous power.
Spiritually, I found the symbolism of the rhino manifested in the gospel. The Son of God with divine power became a human servant who humbly, lovingly sacrificed himself so that people may receive forgiveness and salvation. It was gentleness and power that affected real, astronomical change.
Gentleness & Power (2024) by Brian S. Chan, done in charcoal and acrylic on shikishi paper
Luminary Warrior 