Gareth Pitman

'Not Truly One, but Truly Two.' (2026).
Acrylic, wax, coloured pencil and coloured marker pen on canvas. 61cm x 51cm x 4cm

I’m fascinated by the human condition.
And this deeply personal self-portrait above is a representation of a vicious, inhuman visceral hell; my
nervous breakdown.

In 'Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde', Stevenson’s 'Not Truly One, but Truly Two’ line succinctly captures the duality of man - hence the title of this piece.
My soul’s darkest side was increasingly disinterring itself - unbidden, untamed and unsustainably unbearable; like ‘Hyde’, I was becoming a monster.

Yet “Better out than in”, as they say.
And through the cathartic, healing power of prayer, family, therapy - and the right meds - a reboot finally granted me the necessary peace to return to my too-long-neglected art practice.

So, now thankfully, instead of fighting the causes of my meltdown, I’ve been blessed; having been granted the serenity to finally, finally accept the things that I cannot change.