Still life with fruit and Zebra
Oil on canvas, 96 x 96 cm, 2022
A red-covered table of fruit sits neatly in the foreground, offering a small scene of order while the zebras behind it twist into conflict. The contrast makes the calm feel unstable rather than secure. Beside them, the wooden figure lowers his head and lets his hands fall, showing apathy instead of alarm. He does not turn toward the danger, and that lack of response becomes central to the work. The painting suggests a form of wilful blindness, where disorder can be ignored as long as familiar arrangements remain in place. Through the figure’s quiet withdrawal from reality, William reflects on how people may retreat into passivity when the world around them is already becoming difficult to hold together. 
This work seems to speak to a quiet confrontation between order, apathy and danger. The still life persists unchanged in the foreground, its calm increasingly precarious, possibly suggesting how rigid adherence to tradition can function as a wilful blindness to mounting instability. Seated beside both, the wooden figure remains almost bored, its apathy implying a conscious withdrawal from reality; it neither acknowledges the violence nor responds to the threat. 
From the artist >
< From Rexhibit
Order   ✚
Order
A red-covered table of fruit sits neatly in the foreground, offering a small scene of order while the zebras behind it twist into conflict.
Apathy   ✚
Apathy
Beside them, the wooden figure lowers his head and lets his hands fall, showing apathy instead of alarm.
Danger   ✚
Danger
He does not turn toward the danger, and that lack of response becomes central to the work.
Wilful blindness  ✚
Wilful blindness
The painting suggests a form of wilful blindness, where disorder can be ignored as long as familiar arrangements remain in place.
Withdrawal from reality   ✚
Withdrawal from reality
Through the figure’s quiet withdrawal from reality, William reflects on how people may retreat into passivity when the world around them is already becoming difficult to hold together. 

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Brooklyn, NY
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Still life with fruit and Zebra
Oil on canvas, 96 x 96 cm, 2022
From Rexhibit
A red-covered table of fruit sits neatly in the foreground, offering a small scene of order while the zebras behind it twist into conflict. The contrast makes the calm feel unstable rather than secure. Beside them, the wooden figure lowers his head and lets his hands fall, showing apathy instead of alarm. He does not turn toward the danger, and that lack of response becomes central to the work. The painting suggests a form of wilful blindness, where disorder can be ignored as long as familiar arrangements remain in place. Through the figure’s quiet withdrawal from reality, William reflects on how people may retreat into passivity when the world around them is already becoming difficult to hold together. 
From the Artist
This work seems to speak to a quiet confrontation between order, apathy and danger. The still life persists unchanged in the foreground, its calm increasingly precarious, possibly suggesting how rigid adherence to tradition can function as a wilful blindness to mounting instability. Seated beside both, the wooden figure remains almost bored, its apathy implying a conscious withdrawal from reality; it neither acknowledges the violence nor responds to the threat.
Contact us
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Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
© 2026 Rexhibit. All rights reserved.