No Control by Filip D. Jenson
No Control. Acrylic on canvas. 65 W x 90 H x 2 D cm
Filip D. Jensen's painting No Control is a gripping exploration of existential despair and the struggle for agency. Painted in acrylic on canvas, the 65 cm by 90 cm work fuses surrealism and expressionism, hallmarks of Jensen's oeuvre. In this particular piece, the raw emotion captured in both form and content reveals the artist’s preoccupation with the human condition—specifically, the feeling of being overwhelmed by life’s circumstances.
The painting centres around a figure seated at what appears to be a picnic table, yet the vibrant, almost burning yellow background strips the scene of any specific time or place. This lack of grounding is pivotal to Jensen’s intention, emphasising the isolation and entrapment felt by the individual. The figure’s head hangs downward, their hands pressing their face, which seems to be melting or dissolving into a plate in front of them. This disconcerting visual suggests a loss of control, not only metaphorically but physically—where the very form of the body becomes undone. The figure’s indistinct features also heighten this sense of helplessness, an identity melting into a chaotic void.
Jensen's use of soft, liquid-like brushstrokes to render the figure’s face contrasts with the stark minimalism of the background, reinforcing the theme of internal dissolution. The tablecloth, rendered in cooler tones of blue, provides a fleeting sense of order, but this too is superficial. The seemingly calm surface cannot contain the psychological unrest of the figure. In the foreground, tall, grass-like strokes hint at a wild and untamed environment, suggesting the subject is metaphorically overgrown by forces beyond their control.
No Control demonstrates Filip D. Jensen’s mastery of contradiction. The painting is emotionally charged and visually arresting, blending abstract and figurative elements seamlessly. His controlled application of acrylics and the deliberate use of paradoxical soft yet intense colours draw viewers in while eliciting unease—a feeling Jensen purposefully evokes.
Rooted in themes of existentialism, No Control compels the viewer to confront the fragility of the self. The painting's surreal distortion of reality taps into deeper philosophical questions: How much of our lives do we truly control? And how much of our identity can dissolve when the pressures of life seem insurmountable?
By distilling complex emotional states into striking visual metaphors, Filip D. Jensen brings an intensely personal, yet universally relatable, exploration of the human condition to the canvas. His art challenges us to sit with discomfort, to acknowledge vulnerability, and to reflect on the thin line between agency and surrender.
The painting is available to buy on saatchiart.com
