Discordia concors

The work is part of a larger project, Heroji,  which revives twelve ancient deities—six women, six men—from diverse civilizations. Each Heroji is built from a set of predefined elements—backgrounds, hairstyles, expressions, skin tones, and emblems. By recombining these components, Anaïs Zhang generates dozens of unique variations for every deity, like a myth retold in multiple voices. The project has an ecological aim : each god represents an element of nature, of which he becomes the protector.

But mythology teaches us that these benevolent gods have a dark side. However, this negative violence can be transformed into positive energy.

Hence the idea of Discordia concors. These internal tensions exist between the gods. We have selected four Heroji who represent the four primordial elements:

•⁠  ⁠Perun, Slavic god of lightning: FIRE

•⁠  ⁠Olokun, Yoruba Orisha of the oceans: WATER

•⁠  ⁠Pachamama, Inca goddess of fertility: EARTH

•⁠  ⁠Fujin, Japanese god of wind: AIR

All these elements oppose, even clash, like water and fire. A world doomed to chaos? The Greek Heraclitus  declared that what is contrary is useful, and it is from what is in conflict that the most beautiful harmony is born. Everything is created through discord. 

But now, from China, the ghost of Lao Tzu is heard: yes, the world is made of opposing principles, yin and yang (Positive and Negative, Male and Female, Light and Shadow), but it is not a war but complementarity and balance.

The discord of the elements allows for a dialogue between Western and Eastern wisdom.

It establishes a dialogue between the ancient world and contemporary digital art, marked by pop art.

With closed eyes, Pachamama meditates on a world where confrontation can turn into  peace.