Between two Breaths (2026) Original Acrylic Painting by Emmanuel Akolo

In this diptych, I explore the profound tension between stillness and kinetic energy through the vessel of transformation. By intentionally bisecting the image, I invite you to look beyond the butterfly and into the void that separates it. This physical gap represents the "in-between" moments of existence—the silent, suspended space between inhalation and exhalation where change is inevitable but quiet. I used expressive, gestural brushwork against a muted, atmospheric background to mirror the internal struggle of emerging into a new state. While the butterfly traditionally symbolizes the soul, here it is fragmented, suggesting that growth is rarely a seamless journey. I want this split canvas to highlight the duality of the self: one half anchored in the past and the other ready for flight. It is a meditation on that singular moment of transition where we are no longer what we were, but not yet what we will become.

Materials used:

Acrylic On Canvas

Details:

• Acrylic painting on Canvas
• One of a kind artwork
• Size: 91.44 x 91.44 x 3.81cm (unframed)
• Ready to hang
• Signed certificate of authenticity
• Style: Abstract
• Subject: Animals and birds