“Half-Gifts”

2017 | 12”x8” | Mixed-media:
Prismacolor Verithin red/blue colored pencil, Derwent Inktense pencils, white charcoal, and water brush on white textured paper.
—
“Words hurt.” He withholds the arrow of love while she has been stung by his arrows of detest. Yet he still smiles, presenting her with the devil mask. So she must be the villain in this situation. A closer look reveals the mask is in fact a mirror of his own face, a projection he is forcing upon her. She grips the scissors, ready to cut the gag and break her silence.

“HALF-GIFTS” warns we be very, very careful of who we allow to speak for us. Sometimes the people who we would think should have our best interests at heart may be crafting and triggering versions of us that best suit their own narratives. Were I to rename the piece, I would call it “MOUTHPIECE.” At its core, this piece is about narcissistic abuse.
—
FLORIOGRAPHY:
•Lavender: One must be cautious around the lavender. It was once believed the wispy bushes made an ideal nest for the asp (a tiny venomous snake), therefore it was up to the recipient to riddle out whether the gift of lavender denoted their lover’s faithfulness or if they should be mistrusted.