Post by @MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art

WAVE (1994)
Acrylic on Canvas - 48” x 48”

Of all the paintings hanging in my home, this one probably elicits the most comments. It's also a good example of why I am reluctant to say too much about my work. Some people are frightened by it, some view it as peaceful and some are just struck by its abstract qualities. 1/2

#fineart #personalvisions #imaginativerealism

An exponential curve expressed as a massive wave of green-blue water that climbs to vertical against a sky of puffy lavender clouds. Light breaks through the cloud cover just over the horizon casting a flat glare across rippling water before the wave climbs. Fin-like ridges emerge running up the wall give the water turbulence and dimension.

#imaginativerealism #personalvisions #fineart

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Michael Whelan

@MichaelWhelan@mastodon.art 2 hr. ago

However, my intention was to design the wave as a simple exponential curve to visualize the problem of human population growth:

“...the power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.” 2/2

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/wave/

2 media files

Detail from WAVE featuring the flat part of the curve. Light breaks through the clouds just above the horizon providing a flat glare across the rippling surface of water.

Detail from WAVE featuring exponential climb of the wave as it quickly reaches vertical. Fin-like ridges emerge running up the wall giving the water turbulence and dimension.

The Art of Michael Whelan

WAVE

Of all the paintings hanging in my home, this one probably elicits the most comments. It’s also a good example of why I am reluctant to say too much about my work. Some people are frightened …

Squirrel

@resl@mas.to 54 min. ago

@MichaelWhelan Re: population growth - I bristle when I come across a focus on population growth as thee problem because it has been such an emblematic piece of Nazi and other genocidal groups' propaganda.

In light of human history's stains of repeated genocide, it is probably wise to focus specifically on the humanist means of avoiding unsustainable conditions as opposed to just the unsustainable conditions - since that tends to invite those who promote genocide.

That all said, this wave represents many things to me. Pure overwhelm. The moment before a psychological collapse or breakdown. The building anxiety as a bad situation is becoming particularly fragile. In my dreams of this wave, I'm usually protecting an infant, trying to get us far enough inland to avoid the crash.

Squirrel

@resl@mas.to 1 hr. ago

@MichaelWhelan I have dreamed of this wave periodically throughout my life since childhood