The Zebra Man Drawing by Eriberto Oriol
Text by Angelica Oriol
The GENIUS OF AN ARTIST is when they allow themselves to get into their creative zone and tap into the world of the creative unconsciousness. It is an omniscient world. A world that holds: world history, philosophy, mythology, and the mysteries of the unknown.
The Zebra Man is one of Eriberto’s art pieces in the series, “Dancing with a Madman.” When you look at the Zebra man, he seems to be incarcerated physically. However, he is spiritually jailed as well. It is the zebras’ illusion of the blending of instinct and intuition that makes him a powerful animal that has survived against many odds. The zebra may be a powerful metaphor reminding us of the importance of encouraging and supporting each other. You see, the zebra can only sleep when another member of the herd next to it is awake and on guard. They must work together to protect and guide the herd to the safety and resources they require.
For artists like Eriberto, he does not set out to paint these images, nor try to find meaning in the symbolism of the images or choice of colors, yet they seem to hold powerful meanings. He feels it is a privilege to have the unique distinction of being an artist that allows him to see a world that is not always obvious. He knows that art is not what you see but what it makes you think and hopes that “Dancing with a Madman” series help others to detect their own gleam of light.
GO TO: ForbiddenArtLA.com to view full “Dancing with a Madman” body of artwork.
