The Power of Two: Exploring the Nature of Duality

In my undergrad, I took an Art History course for my Art Major. I texted the boy in the mail room through most of the class. I know I earned the B that was posted at the end of the semester. 

I didn't argue with the professor because I knew his policy on cellphones. And yet, I was still paying attention while typing away silly little jokes - paying attention at the same time long before any ADHD diagnosis, my attention was split, always split.

I still remember the terrible jokes and I also remember Picasso's blue period. Duality, the professor explained, exists within all great works of art.

Picasso put straightlined shapes and torn, tattered newsprint together and called it a guitar,

mixing the music with the visual.

Picasso married the curved arc of a painted blue figure’s back to represent life and death.

Both: Duality. 

Duality, the professor went on, is found in the shadow and the light, the color and the figure, the geometric and the organic.

Duality creates visceral feeling which reminds humans of life, reminds humans of feeling,

compassion, and empathy.

Matisse painted with deep, harsh red hues. His brush stroke remained soft and comforting.

Juxtapositions create intense reminders that we humans hold emotion.

Duality: life and death, dark and light, soft and harsh, calm and chaotic, reality within the

fantastical.

My life has become a duality. holding faith and belief against religion and spiritual, adventure

and stability. Cats and dogs, dogs and cats. Introverting in the same spaces as extroverting.

And so I write to feel and take the logical medications. and I self care in the same breath as self deprecate.

Bookish tees while binging reality television.

And I find myself living the rules of duality. My life has become poetry intertwined, a great work of art, my professor would say.

Written by, Amy Harrison