The Inside Joke
My latest artwork, "A Hollow Stare and a Wink," blends social commentary with my ongoing holiday theme while also carrying an inside joke for those who recognize it. The piece depicts a skeleton of a woman in a yellow blouse, straw fedora with a blue ribbon, pulling down her shades in a playful, flirtatious gesture. At first glance, it recalls a universal courtship ritual, one we have all seen or experienced in some way. Yet beneath the humor lies a deeper critique of narcissism and the ways in which outward appearances, ritualized flirting, and sexualization are used as tools of manipulation. The hollow nature of the skeleton captures what lies beneath—an absence of true connection and accountability.
The painting comments on how narcissists often trauma bond their partners, offering glimpses of hope for change only to withdraw suddenly in pursuit of external validation. Victims are left confused, disconnected, and wounded, while the narcissist remains emotionally stunted, a hollow figure shaped by their own unresolved childhood abandonment and neglect. These individuals move from relationship to relationship, donning new outward personas and mimicking emotions, yet never truly evolving beyond their need for validation. The skeleton in this work embodies this cycle—a being that appears clothed and vibrant on the outside, but reduced to bare bones on the inside.
For the palette, I leaned into contrasts to tell the story. The vibrant aquas and yellows symbolize the lure and energy of external illusions, the bright surface that draws people in. The bones, left bone white, emphasize the void beneath. This work also marks the beginning of my new series, "The Inside Joke," which introduces glow in the dark paint. This choice underscores the unsettling reality that once you recognize a narcissist’s true nature, you see them not only in the light of awareness but also in the disturbing darkness of their character.
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