The Ambiguity of Freedom

In this painting, I wanted to portray the idea of ambiguous freedom, or more specifically, unfreedom presented as freedom. The figure is locked in a struggle, but within the confines of the static image it can be seen either as being pushed into the room or resisting being pulled from it, depending on your perspective. I imagined something resembling a bodily function that we associate with vital supply such as the arteries, esophagus or umbilical cord.

Our environment is an artificial habitat, in which the conditions for freedom are simulated in order to disorient us from the real thing. Our world is the food that destroys your body but tastes good. Like the prey of the angler fish, we are led starry-eyed to our demise.