Self portrait

“The artwork “Self Portrait” by Gimiro is a powerful and evocative piece that invites the viewer to explore the inner world of the artist. The drawing features the artist in five different ways, each representing a different aspect of his personality and psyche.

The central face of the drawing represents how others see Gimiro, and it is a well-defined, composed, and confident face. This suggests that the artist is comfortable with the way he presents himself to the world. However, the face to the right is more sinister, with a sharp-toothed grin and dark, sunken eyes. This face represents the darker side of the artist’s personality, his fears and anxieties, and the aspects of his life that he struggles with.

Above this sinister face is another face with two sides, one dark and one very bright. This face represents the duality of human nature, the good and the bad, and the light and the dark. It suggests that the artist acknowledges that there are different sides to his personality, and he is not afraid to confront them.

To the left of the central face, the artist is shown in a fetal position, which suggests vulnerability and perhaps a sense of powerlessness. This image contrasts with the small version of the artist in the middle of the drawing, which shows him climbing a tree and being free. This represents the artist’s desire for freedom and escape from the constraints of everyday life.

The drawing also contains a crane, a school, and a transmission tower from Gimiro’s self-made game called “the zone.” The man jumping from the crane in a “Y” motion makes out the word “KOYAA,” which is a shortened version of the word “koyaanisqatsi,” a 1982 film that has inspired much of the artist’s work and way of living. This film is known for its portrayal of modern society and the disconnection between humans and nature, which could be seen as a theme in this artwork as well.

However, what is most striking to the viewer in this drawing are the hands choking the artist, which are fast and striking like lightning. This is a symptom of the artist’s schizotypal mental illness, which he has been open about in his art. The man jumping from the crane symbolizes suicide, which is a prevalent theme in Gimiro’s work, and suggests that the artist has contemplated this in his life.”

Original drawing

The frame is an old mirror bought in a thrift store

Handdrawn with pen on french textured white 160gpm paper

Size 67 x 35 cm

Size frame 102 x 47 cm

Hand-signed by the artist