Print Transfer Piece

Untitled #1,    25cm x 71cm, 2011

Mixed media (solvent transfer, colored pencil, water color, ink) on Bristol-type paper

This picture represents my first attempt at this type of print transfer. The images were taken from three books, photocopied and then transferred (all but one) using acetone as a solvent. For the image of the human form exploding (the first transferred) I used T.R.P.S. (a kind of turpentine replacement solvent). With this type of photocopier toner, the acetone worked much better and was much more pleasant to work with the the residue-producing turpentine replacement (which also had a more difficult fume for indoors work conditions).
The piece itself contains images from three books. The first, and likely most recognizable, is Watchmen. The second set of pictures came from a book about northwest (United States) animals. The third book used for both images and text is a Russian-language book containing an epic poem about three heroes (Tri Bogatyri).
As viewed from left to right, the viewers eye follows the path of the pale blue and is naturally drawn to the reds along this path. The path represents the path of humans. Humans create their own path and see around them achievement, comparison, struggle and the compulsion to complete, be victorious, to conquer, to win, to lead. While humans travel this path, the natural world looks on with indifference, as reflected by the cougar and bears. They are found outside the path and might glance at the spinning wheels of the human, but soon return to paying no attention to the humans as they pass. They do pass. They will and they'll move on. Nature will remain while only traces of the humans will. Man struggles against nature, both the natural world and his own, only to feed hermself into it when all is done. In vain.
So, is it all about the evolutionary struggle? Win, make lots of babies, pass on your genes for competition and aggression? Maybe. Maybe that's why so many humans act the way they do. It's merely a reflection of wanting to conquer, win, offer security so someone will want to make babies with them. That's why they compete.
Considering this, then why do some not compete? Why do I not want to fight? Am I a failure or were those that came before me not as competitive or aggressive yet still somehow able to reproduce? Has my lineage learned to settle with mediocrity, to settle for any kind of reproduction just to keep the genes going? Where does that leave me? My kids (and I have a few)?
Maybe I can rationalize this behavior and drive (lack of behavior? drive?) by speaking of post-humanism. And so I shall. How do we transcend this need to compete and become caring people conscious of the social good? How do we bring civilization out of the 'civilized caveman' mode of action into something beyond our competition and survival based roots?

Updated 21 March 2011: added image information (dimensions, media, title, etc.)