Splitting Yourself – Cubist Portrait Painting

Splitting Yourself is an original cubist portrait painting by Daniela Sanchez Vegas that explores duality, identity, self-awareness, and the opposing forces that exist within the human experience. Created with mixed technique and acrylic on canvas, this striking 55 x 45-inch contemporary artwork combines the face of a woman with the powerful image of a tiger.

Part of The Beginning of Awake Awareness collection, the painting uses a dramatic split-face composition to visually explore the concept of self-splitting—the way the mind may respond through opposing states as a form of psychological protection.

Artwork Details

• Title: Splitting Yourself
• Year: 2020
• Collection: The Beginning of Awake Awareness
• Artist: Daniela Sanchez Vegas
• Medium: Mixed technique and acrylic on canvas
• Dimensions: 55 x 45 inches
• Subject: Woman and tiger split-face portrait
• Style: Contemporary Cubist and geometric portrait art
• Themes: Duality, identity, self-awareness, inner conflict, and psychological defense

A Portrait of Duality

At the center of Splitting Yourself is a compelling visual duality: one side presents a woman's face, while the other transforms into the face of a tiger.

The two figures appear as parts of a single identity, creating a powerful metaphor for opposing forces existing within the same individual.

The human figure and tiger are visually divided yet inseparable. Their contrasting blue and green eyes command attention, reinforcing the sense that two distinct perspectives are looking outward from one unified composition.

The Psychology of Self-Splitting

The concept behind Splitting Yourself draws on the idea of psychological defense.

When faced with difficult experiences, the mind can respond in contrasting ways as it attempts to protect the internal self. These defenses can function like emotional armor, often operating unconsciously and outside our immediate awareness.

Through its divided portrait, the artwork transforms this psychological concept into a visual experience.

Rather than presenting identity as something simple or fixed, Splitting Yourself asks viewers to consider the different and sometimes contradictory forces that can exist within a person.

Woman and Tiger as Opposing Forces

The combination of a woman and tiger adds another dimension to the artwork's exploration of identity.

The human portrait evokes individuality, emotion, and consciousness, while the tiger introduces a sense of instinct, strength, and untamed energy.

Together, they can be interpreted as two dimensions of the self—the conscious and instinctive, the vulnerable and powerful, the controlled and wild.

Their faces merge into a single portrait, suggesting that seemingly opposite qualities do not always exist separately. Instead, they may coexist as interconnected parts of the same identity.

Color, Geometry, and Contrast

The composition is surrounded by a dynamic combination of geometric shapes and patterns.

Triangles, stripes, polka dots, checkerboard forms, and bold linear elements create movement throughout the canvas. Vibrant reds, greens, blues, yellows, and turquoise interact with dominant areas of black and white.

This contrast reflects the artwork's central theme of duality.

Black and white become visual representations of opposing ideas, while the vivid colors between them suggest a more complex spectrum of experience.

The result is a colorful contemporary portrait that challenges the idea that identity can always be understood through simple opposites.

Two Sides of the Same Self

Duality appears throughout everyday life:

Good and evil.
Peace and war.
Love and hate.
Strength and vulnerability.
Black and white.

Like two sides of a coin, these opposing ideas may appear separate while remaining parts of the same whole.

Splitting Yourself uses its divided human-and-animal portrait to explore this tension, encouraging viewers to reflect on the contradictions within themselves and the psychological defenses that shape how they experience the world.

An Invitation to Self-Awareness

Through its combination of Cubist-inspired portraiture, geometric patterns, vivid colors, and symbolic imagery, Splitting Yourself transforms an internal psychological experience into a bold visual statement.

The painting invites viewers to look beyond simple definitions of identity and recognize the complexity of the self.

Rather than rejecting our contradictions, the artwork suggests that awareness begins by recognizing them.

About Splitting Yourself

What is Splitting Yourself?

Splitting Yourself is a 2020 contemporary cubist portrait painting by Daniela Sanchez Vegas. The artwork features a split-face composition combining a woman and a tiger and explores themes of duality, identity, self-awareness, and psychological defense.

What does Splitting Yourself represent?

The painting explores the concept of self-splitting and the opposing states that can exist within an individual's internal world. It uses the visual duality of a woman and tiger to encourage reflection on identity, inner conflict, and self-awareness.

Why does the painting feature a woman and a tiger?

The woman and tiger create a visual representation of duality. Their merged faces can be interpreted as contrasting dimensions of identity, combining human consciousness and emotion with the strength and instinctive qualities traditionally associated with a tiger.

What artistic style is Splitting Yourself?

Splitting Yourself combines contemporary portraiture with Cubist and geometric elements. The composition features fragmented forms, geometric shapes, bold patterns, and strong color contrasts. ArtMajeur also categorizes the artwork under Cubism and Colorful.

What medium is used in Splitting Yourself?

According to Daniela SV Art, Splitting Yourself is created using mixed technique and acrylic on canvas. ArtMajeur also identifies the work as acrylic on canvas.

What are the dimensions of Splitting Yourself?

Daniela SV Art lists the artwork as 55 x 45 inches, while ArtMajeur lists it as 56 x 45 inches. Because the artist's own product page states 55 x 45 inches, I would use that measurement unless Daniela confirms otherwise.

When was Splitting Yourself created?

Splitting Yourself was created in 2020, according to both Daniela SV Art and ArtMajeur.

Who created Splitting Yourself?

Splitting Yourself was created by Daniela Sanchez Vegas and is part of The Beginning of Awake Awareness collection.