Through the Self is a meditation on the rise of the narcissistic personality in modern culture, a theme reflected in both subject and process.
The head is crowned with daffodils, also known as Narcissus, a nod to the Greek myth of Narcissus, who fell in love with his own reflection. That story became a starting point for thinking about self-obsession, validation seeking, fear of aging, and struggle with real connection in today's world, something that feels especially present in the age of social media.
While the face is painted from a reference of my own, it is not meant to be a self-portrait in the traditional sense. For me, portraiture is not always about capturing personal identity, it can also give form to an idea. The face here is calm and introspective, representing something more universal.
Each daffodil was painted slowly, over many hours, as I listened to podcasts and audiobooks to deepen my understanding of the subject. The process became a kind of meditation, part artistic practice, part intellectual study.
Personally, this painting also marks an important moment in my life. As I prepare to become a parent for the first time, it reflects a shift from focusing on myself to caring for someone else. It is about moving beyond the self and into something deeper and more connected.