Grumpy Bunny

The juxtaposition of cute and grumpy satisfies something deep inside of me.

This is not a new concept, rabbits have been depicted in this way since before medieval times. Recall the illuminated manuscripts pf rabbits with axes and swords fighting unto death. Some say this is inspired by the real life attiduce of most rabbits, they do tend to be a bit grumpy and angry under all that fluffy cuteness. They are also known to fight unto death in some cases.

Regardless, I am fascinated by the contract of cute and grumpy. It reminds me of Simone Weils quote on where deep sorrow meets deep joy.

“The Pythagoreans said that harmony or proportion is the unity of contraries, qua contraries, There is no harmony if the contraries are brought together forcibly, nor if they are mixed; the point of unity has to be found. Without ever doing violence to one’s soul, without ever seeking either consolation or suffering, to contemplate the thing, whatever it is, that rouses emotion, until one arrives at the secret point where sorrow and joy reach the point of purity where they are one and the same thing; that is the essential virtue of poetry.” — Simone Weil

I think this is why I enjoy these seemingly contrasting feelings, there is a depth and poetry to it that is simply not achieve by imbalance.

Anyway, I will continue painting this Grumpy bunny simply because it fulfills something inside of me. Like a piece of music that harmonies my soul by jumping between complementary keys or modes in a symmetrical and soul satisfying way.