All Suppressed Truths Become Poisonous (Fear of the Devil)
mixed media on wood panel
38 ½” x 49” x 2”
2023-24
Friedrich Nietzsche asserted that "Silence is worse; all truths that are kept silent become poisonous," emphasizing the profound dangers of repression and the vital importance of confronting reality. He argued that when uncomfortable truths are ignored or denied, they do not disappear; instead, they intensify and mutate into something far more destructive, gradually eroding both the individual’s psyche and the fabric of society. This concept is central to his critique of modern morality, which he perceived as hypocritical and deeply rooted in denial. Nietzsche particularly criticized the repression of natural instincts and the "will to power," the fundamental driving force behind human creativity and ambition, which he believed leads to widespread resentment and a pervasive lack of authenticity in both personal and cultural life.
Nietzsche emphasized the necessity of confronting the darker aspects of existence—such as suffering, chaos, and death—rather than retreating into comforting illusions that provide a false sense of security. He argued that a truly healthy culture must maintain a delicate balance between the Apollonian elements of order, reason, and harmony, and the Dionysian forces of chaos, passion, and the irrational. When the truths associated with these darker, Dionysian aspects of life are suppressed, they become toxic, leading to a dangerous disconnection from reality and ultimately causing societal decay.