Standing in the Gap

By: Richard III

Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Panel

Dimensions: 24in x 30in

Year: 2021

Status: Private Collection / Available

Standing in the Gap : Standoff

In Standing in the Gap the artist explores the modern "standoff"—the perpetual friction created by labels such as politics, economics, and the battle of the sexes. By personifying these opposing forces as animals in the "civilized" attire of black suits, the painting strips away the veneer of human sophistication to reveal a core that remains dangerously animalistic.

The Monkey represents the elevation of human intellect over the Divine, personifying the belief that we are "too smart" for a Creator. Despite its proximity to human intelligence, the choice of a primate reminds us that it remains an animal, lacking the spiritual depth and the image of God in which Mankind was actually formed. Opposing it is the Stag, the avatar of status and worldly royalty. With antlers reaching upward like an unsanctified crown, the Stag represents those who worship their own station, believing themselves to be gods of their own making.

At the heart of the crossfire sits the Lamb, clad in a stark white suit. While the Monkey and the Stag weaponize their intellect and status against one another, the Lamb remains the unfazed center. The stylized red rays emanating from the weapons do not pierce him; instead, he absorbs and reflects the shots, physically preventing the two sides from harming one another. He is the personification of Christ, standing in the gap of human division.

The painting forces a reflection on the uncivilized nature of Mankind. By choosing animals perceived as noble or intelligent rather than overtly brutal, the artist highlights the irony of our species: we view ourselves as the most evolved organisms on the planet, yet we remain perpetually locked in a cycle of pointing guns at one another. It is a visual testimony that without the Lamb to mediate our nature, our "civilization" is merely a well-dressed wild.