Opposition by Raquel Reis
Explore Mondoir Studio
Medium: Oil on Arches paper
Dimensions: 29 x 42 cm
Year: 2026
Price: $720.00 USD
Status: available
"Opposition" emerged from my exploration of the complex dance between unity and division. As I painted these intertwined figures, I was inspired by the tension that often exists in our relationships, how we can be physically close yet worlds apart emotionally. This duality is the heart of the piece, capturing the essence of conflict and resistance. The contrasting colors and mirrored gestures are deliberate choices to emphasize the emotional chasm between the figures. The angular lines and sharp edges reflect the friction of ideological divergence, while the expressive brushwork adds a dynamic energy, breathing life into their silent struggle. The layered textures create depth, inviting viewers to delve into the nuances of confrontation and coexistence. I hope that when you engage with this piece, you feel the tension and complexity of human connections. It’s a reminder of the beauty and pain of our intertwined lives, a visual narrative that speaks to the push and pull we all experience. May it provoke reflection on your own relationships and the delicate balance between unity and separation.
Why collect this work?
Two fused profiles turn opposition into a problem of forced proximity: bodily contact persists even as gaze, posture, and gesture pull the figures apart.
- Reis says her figuration reconstructs experience rather than describing reality. The distorted anatomy supports that aim here, making each figure less a portrait than one side of a contested relationship.
- In the photograph, one face projects left and the other right, while their torsos remain interlocked. A tight fist contrasts with splayed fingers, giving disagreement distinct bodily forms without identifying its cause.
- The catalogue records oil on Arches paper. Here, the medium supports broad opaque passages alongside crisp linear contours, combining painterly marks with the directness of a drawing-based composition.
- Catalogued as Opposition and dated 2026, the painting is a concise study of coexistence without agreement. Its unresolved embrace complicates any simple division between adversaries and allies.
About the Artist
Raquel Reis
Raquel Reis is an artist on Mondoir Studio. Artistic discipline: painting. Based in Madrid, ES.
Nationality: Brazilian
My work is rooted in sensation, perception, and gesture.
