Atonia

"Atonia" is a pivotal work from our "REM" series, exploring the threshold between the physiological reality of sleep and the metaphysical state of the soul. The title refers to the natural muscle paralysis that occurs during deep sleep, which we translate here into a powerful metaphor for human vulnerability and existential stillness.

As a duo, our practice merges the analytical precision of restoration with avant-garde pictorial research. In "Atonia," the realistic rendering of the anatomy clashes with a turbulent, atmospheric background, creating a suspended "non-place." The figure is half-submerged in a dreamlike environment, representing the fragility of identity in moments of transition. By stripping the subject of its defenses, we invite the viewer to reflect on the silent tension between the tangible world and the unconscious.