I Am Better Than You

Humans often tend to label and judge everything, including other people. Sometimes, these labels are spoken as compliments, but other times as insults. Both aim to achieve a sense of satisfaction. There is a unique culture within human social environments where we often use animals as labels. For example, when angry, we might say “ASU” (dog), or when happy, we might use “CELENG” (wild boar) to refer to someone, or to assert that we are better than others. These labels grow and are accepted without being written down, but what is interesting is that often we ourselves create these labels, yet we feel offended when labeled in the same way. Humans have a unique nature, and there is truth in comparing us to animals because fundamentally humans are thinking animals. Our intelligence and wisdom lie in our ability to think. Therefore, if we lose our ability to think, we become nothing more than animals. Through this painting, we can see another side of the labels we create and use it as a reflection of ourselves. It becomes a contemplation for each individual—whether we have used our human potential fully or only our animal potential (to eat, drink, play, get angry).