Children Don't Come Into The World Without Baggage
Children Don't Come Into The World Without Baggage / Децата идват с багажа си - Schmincke oils on canvas. Size: 80 x 100 cm, Anton Terziev, 2019
Photo: © the artist
Courtesy of the artist
Selfportrait with my father's head striking a pose inspired by Maria Lassnig'painting (You Or Me, 2005) and Anita Siegel And Nancy Grossman photo portrait by Richard Avedon, 1990
Title credit: Svetoslav Todorov - journalist, editor and writer
Last shown at Small Victories solo exhibition, Arosita Gallery, 2019, curator Svetoslav Todorov
"Artist: For Gods sake, don't let the baggage you bring with you stop you from working. Every artiust who ever lived had baggage. Art is made from baggage."
Jerry Saltz 1/15/23
Children Don't Come Into The World Without Baggage - detail. Photo: © the artist
Anton Terziev's *Children Don't Come Into The World Without Baggage* is a striking and provocative oil painting that delves deep into the complexities of human identity, internal conflict, and the psychological burden that each individual carries. The painting combines surrealism with a touch of expressionism, exploring the dark and unsettling side of human nature.
At the heart of the painting, we see a man with two faces—one facing forward, serene and bald, and the other twisted in a grimace, poking at the man's head. This duality of identity is central to the piece, highlighting the theme of internal conflict. The disjointed nature of the human form creates a sense of discord, where the man seems to be battling between different versions of himself. The face behind his head, marked by the expressive contorted emotions, contrasts sharply with the calmness of the figure’s frontal expression, making the viewer contemplate the psychological weight one carries—specifically, the inner turmoil that is not always visible to the outside world.
The pose of the figure adds another layer to the narrative. The man's outstretched arm, with a pointed finger, creates an aggressive, accusatory gesture, which directs the viewer’s attention outward, possibly suggesting the external pressures and judgments that shape one's identity. This stark, forward-facing accusatory gesture is juxtaposed with the vulnerability of the figure's nakedness, creating an intense visual contradiction that is both confrontational and exposed.
The background’s vivid red hue plays a crucial role in amplifying the emotional intensity of the work. Red can symbolize both danger and passion, acting as a powerful emotional anchor that ties the work together. It heightens the sense of discomfort and urgency, implying that the baggage referenced in the title is not just a passive burden but something intense and ever-present.
The artist's brushwork is thick and expressive, especially in the rendering of the figures' faces and torso, which adds texture and tactile quality to the work. The impasto technique here invites the viewer to engage not just visually but almost physically with the figures, feeling the roughness of the painted skin, the sharpness of the lines that delineate the body and the faces, and the rawness of the emotions conveyed.
The title, *Children Don’t Come Into The World Without Baggage*, underscores a critical point of the piece—human beings are not born without their pre-existing struggles, histories, and identities. This baggage is not something that can be left behind or erased, as it shapes the way we engage with the world and with ourselves. Through this painting, Terziev delves into the paradox of the human condition: while we may be born into the world with innocence, we are inevitably burdened by our experiences, both external and internal, that shape our sense of self.
This painting’s intense portrayal of the human psyche invites the viewer to reflect on the tensions between our external perceptions and internal realities. It’s an exploration of the human condition—how we carry the weight of our lives, our choices, and our inherent contradictions, often revealing parts of ourselves that are buried deep beneath the surface. Through surrealism and expressionism, Anton Terziev captures the visceral struggle of self-awareness and identity in a way that is both unsettling and poignant.