"Stilted" : Original Artwork by Karien Bredenkamp
"Stilted" : Mat Boards that Original and Limited Edition Prints get shipped in

"Stilted"

$39.00
Print Or Original?:Limited Edition Print
Quantity:
Only 49 units left

Prints: Limited edition of 50

About The Artwork:

"Stilted" is a surreal black and white art piece that explores the complexity of growth, movement, and navigating internal contradictions. A jerboa mouse walks delicately on stilts, its long tail winding around the legs like a tangled thread. Stars and galaxies drift between the curves of its posture, and two moons rest beneath the stilts. Atop its head, a crown of antlers balances whimsy with power. This piece mirrors the tone of a dream or a riddle, inviting the viewer to examine both the constraints and the beauty of a life lived between earth and sky.

The jerboa is a small desert rodent known for its powerful hind legs and ability to leap great distances. Despite its fragile appearance, it survives in harsh, arid landscapes by staying alert and adapting quickly. Symbolically, the jerboa represents resilience in unexpected forms and the ability to move forward despite uncertainty. In "Stilted," it becomes a figure of awkward progress, doing its best to move with grace while navigating terrain both internal and cosmic.

Stilts can suggest height, perspective, and the attempt to rise above one’s circumstances. They also imply instability and an exaggerated need for control. In performance and folklore, stilts can be tools of illusion or separation, creating the appearance of elevation while actually increasing vulnerability. Here, the stilts serve as both support and obstacle. They lift the jerboa high, but not without complication. The winding tail suggests that progress is rarely linear and that elevation can come at the cost of entanglement.

Galaxies and stars woven into the composition evoke a sense of vastness and mystery. In myth and spiritual symbolism, the night sky often represents destiny, potential, and the unknown parts of the self. The presence of stars in "Stilted" reflects the idea that even the smallest being is connected to something infinite. Their placement among the tangled tail may suggest that what feels confusing or coiled may, in fact, be a constellation in the making.

Antlers are traditionally symbols of strength, intuition, and cycles of growth. In many cultures, they represent regeneration, as deer shed and regrow them seasonally. When placed on the head of a jerboa, the antlers become an unexpected crown, honoring not dominance, but sensitivity and inner instinct. They suggest a wild dignity, a ceremonial self that exists even in states of imbalance.

Together, the elements in "Stilted" create a layered meditation on the contradictions of becoming. The jerboa walks high above the ground but remains tethered by its own complexity. It is watched over by stars, grounded by moons, and crowned by quiet power. This black and white art piece speaks to the effort of moving through uncertainty, the beauty in trying, and the strange grace found in paths that refuse to straighten. It is a portrait of emotional truth in motion - fragile, mythic, and deeply alive.

"Our chatter swarmed the heavens; our voices echoed from the stars." ― Amael El-Mohtar

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