Soulmates

In this series of drawings, I found inspiration in Plato's myth of soulmates. Aristophanes, in his account within Plato's Symposium, describes the origin of humanity as spherical beings with four arms, four legs, and two faces united under one skull. According to the myth, when Zeus became angered by these original humans, he punished them by splitting them in half, creating the humans we know today. Since then, each half longs to reunite with its other half, its soulmate, to feel whole again.
This concept fascinates me, especially because I have never personally experienced what is often described as finding a soulmate. It raises questions: Do soulmates truly exist? Not necessarily in the mythical, physical sense described by Plato, but as two individuals who connect so deeply that they seem to become one on a mental, emotional, or even spiritual level? Are we spending our lives searching for this elusive "other half," and if so, do people truly find it?

While reflecting on this, another philosophical concept suddenly came to mind: Friedrich Nietzsche's idea of Amor Fati. Nietzsche encourages us to actively embrace and love our lives, much like a child does—with curiosity, acceptance, and an unyielding sense of wonder. Rather than longing for what we lack or searching for a supposed "other half," Amor Fati invites us to find fulfillment and beauty in the present, in the wholeness of our own existence.

This contrast between the yearning for completion through another and the active love for one's own fate sparked a deeper exploration in my work. Is the pursuit of a soulmate a necessary part of the human experience, or is true contentment found in embracing life as it is? The interplay of these ideas—the longing for connection and the acceptance of individuality—forms the foundation of this series of drawings. At the same time, the drawings explore the physical and emotional intimacy between individuals, often with an erotic connotation, highlighting the primal and sensual aspects of human connection.