Yin & Yang
Acrylic on Canvas
40 cm width x 50 cm height
OK I’ve called this painting Yin & Yang.
For those who understand Chinese philosophy, and I’m not one of them, Yin & Yang can, in a meandering sense, roughly mean opposites attract.
The creature covered in fur is a Tarsier. Pronounced taa – see – uh.
They’re a species of small, leaping primates found only on a variety of southeast-asian islands. Tarsiers are, in fact, the smallest primate, some variants the size of a tennis ball.
Being intermediates between lemurs and monkeys Tarsiers are nocturnal, hence their big eyes. These enable them to see in the dark and leap from tree branch to tree branch.
Disc-like suckers on their fingers and toes help them to land safely. Which is particularly useful as some larger variants of the species are capable of leaping 450 metres (18ft). So, having suction-pads on your appendages makes life, for Tarsiers, a little less stressful.
Unfortunately, being extremely sensitive to noise and prone to suicide if placed in captivity Tarsiers are endangered and, needless to say, as rare as rocking-horse poo!
The other individual in the picture is a Sock-Chimp. Pronounced sok – ch – im – p.
They’re a species of hand-made, decorative craft-art, usually knitted with coloured wool then sewn together employing felt before being stuffed with kapok. Having no vision they’re incapable of leaping from branch to branch. They do, however, have a penchant for domestic captivity, are impervious to loud noise and embrace being unremittingly cuddled by their owners. Needless to say they’re about as much use as a chocolate teapot!
I’ve two confessions. First artistic licence. My Tarsier is disproportionate to my Sock-Chimp (a complaint many endure). In reality it would be smaller. Second. I’m unsure which is Yin and which is Yang.
Answers on a postcard please!