In this painting titled "Don't Ever Wrestle With a Pig," we see an astronaut in a red suit, lying on an inflatable pig in the middle of the vast ocean. The pig also looks worn out and bruised, as if they had just gone through a tough and grueling battle. The title of the painting is inspired by the popular saying, "Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it." This saying means that engaging in a futile struggle with an opponent who enjoys the conflict is a waste of time and energy.
The astronaut in the painting seems to have learned this lesson the hard way, as he lies unconscious or sleeping on the pig, defeated and exhausted. The pig, on the other hand, looks content and satisfied.
The painting serves as a reminder that not all struggles are worth engaging in, and that sometimes, it is better to walk away from a pointless fight and conserve your energy for more meaningful endeavors. We should choose our battles wisely.
- Subject Matter: Flood / Astronaut
- Collections: FLOOD (2022)