Perception of Self

For generations, the gorilla was cast as a monster. From early portrayals in films like King Kong to sensationalized headlines, the image was clear: brute force, aggression, danger. But science and experience have rewritten that story. Through the groundbreaking work of primatologists, the world began to see something entirely different.

The gorilla is not a beast. It is a gentle giant.

My painting Perception of Self was born from that realization. It is not simply a portrait of a gorilla. It is a study of strength without hostility. Power without domination. Authority rooted in calmness and love.

And, if we’re honest, it is also a reflection of us.

The Gorilla Spirit: Intelligence, Nobility, and Calm Strength

The Gorilla Spirit embodies a rare combination: immense physical strength paired with remarkable emotional depth.

Gorillas are intelligent problem-solvers. They use tools. They remember faces. They communicate through subtle gestures, posture, and tone. Their leadership structure, particularly within a silverback, reveals something profound. True power does not shout. It steadies.

A silverback does not rule through chaos. He leads through presence. Through watchfulness. Through restraint. This strength speaks columns with its calm presence.

From Beast to Gentle Giant: A Shift in Perception

For decades, popular culture shaped the gorilla’s image as something fearsome. Massive size became synonymous with danger. But as field research expanded, that narrative began to crack.

Researchers living among gorilla troops discovered complex family structures. Emotional bonds. Mourning rituals. Playfulness. Tenderness.

The shift was dramatic.

That shift matters because perception shapes reality.

When we misunderstand something powerful, we often fear it. When we take time to observe, to listen, to learn, we uncover nuance. Depth. Truth.

This mirrors how we perceive people, too. Someone we once labeled harsh may simply be guarded. Someone we thought distant may be steady and reserved.

And who someone was five years ago? That version no longer exists.

We evolve. Constantly.

The Artistic Process: Painting Strength with Stillness

When I approached Perception of Self, I knew I did not want to exaggerate aggression. No bared teeth. No dramatic posturing. I wanted to showcase the gentle nature of the gorillas I spent hours watching at the zoo. So instead, I focused on the eyes.

Eyes reveal presence.

The posture is calm. The expression contemplative.

I wanted viewers to pause.

To question their assumptions.

To see the intelligence behind the gaze. The gentleness beneath the strength.

Because that is where truth lives – in the quiet.

Perception of Self: What We Project, What We Protect

The title of this piece is intentional.

Perception of Self asks a difficult question: how much of who we are is shaped by how we are seen? There are a million different versions of us.  Each and every person we meet will perceive us differently.

If the gorilla can be transformed in public imagination, from savage to noble, what might be possible for us?

Many strong individuals are misread. Calmness mistaken for coldness. Quiet leadership mistaken for passivity. Boundaries mistaken for hardness.

But strength does not need to perform.

It simply is.

The Gorilla Spirit challenges us to embody steady confidence. To practice generosity. To protect what matters without unnecessary force. To nurture relationships intentionally.

The gorilla teaches us that true power is gentle.

And perhaps most importantly; it reminds us to allow people to evolve.

Including ourselves.