A white crow under the gun

Canvas, acrylic, 40x40cm. 2023

A white crow under the gun.
To be like everyone else or to be yourself?
On the path to becoming an individual, many of us face a primal fear - the fear of being rejected, expelled from the tribe, if we do not live up to society's expectations. As a result, we doubt ourselves and our own values. From an individual, we are turned into a collective animal. It is easier to manage a herd.
Those who are not like everyone else are labeled as a "blue stocking", "black sheep", a freak...
The problem is that the herd does not create anything. It simply follows the shepherd, unquestioningly carrying out his commands.
Herds do not paint pictures, do not compose poetry, do not invent iPhones and do not look for a cure for cancer. Individuals do this.
Innovations, creativity. This is the merit of individual personalities, their imagination, extraordinary mind and courage. If they had agreed to be a grey mass, they would never have been able to create something unique.
Creating is scary. It's like being naked in front of a crowd and being ready to be pelted with rotten tomatoes. Not everyone is ready for this. It's much easier to hide in a hole, become a grey mouse and hope that you won't be eaten by the predators of this world.
But the problem is that even if you blend into the wall and try to be invisible, people still write or say nasty things about you. It's just that in one case you are scolded for doing nothing, and in the other - for taking risks and trying to jump above your head.
What's better? To be a black sheep under gunfire or a dirty wall covered in curses?
There is no single answer to this question. Each person chooses how to live.. You can look back at others or live your own life.