PAINTING
ZOÉ ACZÉL
(HUNGARY)
 
DETAILS
TITLE: My Danube’s water I long for,  There it flies chuckling, on multicoloured dream  wing my bitter self,  at the chattering waterfront, I find my quiet peace.
90 x 65 cm
2024
 
DESCRIPTION
The act of peeling away the surface layers of the self to confront myself with my inner world, is not one of destruction, but of rediscovery—an allegory for the Jungian process of individuation, where we slowly uncover the fragmented parts of the self that have been buried in the unconscious, hidden behind the layers of ego and societal expectation.
The nude figure shows the raw essence of the artist — exposed in its vulnerability but also its potential for transformation into something new and invisible to the naked eye. As the skin peels away, intricate patterns appear, evoking both veins and tree branches, symbols of interconnectedness between the human psyche and nature. 
By confronting the fragments of the self, the figure not only unearths personal truths but also taps into this deeper, universal narrative. In this space, we realize that our stories are part of something much older and larger. Inspired by my grandfather's writings, the title reveals the synchronicity between my emotions and those of my ancestors. The painting honors the pain of the past while embracing the resilience that comes from recognizing our shared stories. Through this exploration, I aim to connect more deeply to my heritage and show how the echoes of history shape both my journey and our collective experience. (Zoé Aczél)