Hiding
Caeli Harman (Stoughton, WI)
Oil paint and oil pastel on masonite, 23.5” W x 34.81” H
Artwork:
Hiding explores the reality of technology addiction, and the dangers of chronic escapism. Set within a dense and vibrant forest, a woman crouches in the underbrush. Both the woman’s leisurewear and tight rendering pull her from the scene, betraying her as foreign and lost. Instead of trying to find her way home, the woman remains crouched and escapes into her phone. The painting’s title, Hiding, underscores the irony of the woman’s circumstance, for rather than escaping to safety, the woman deadens her perception. Unbeknownst to her, the saturated orange ground spreads like a bullseye beneath her feet, and unblinking eyes peek at her from between trees. Her back turned and mind distracted, she is vulnerable to whatever creeps in the grasping flora and towering boles. In the same way, when we choose to habitually ignore our own circumstances, escaping from our fear of tomorrow or our inability to protect ourselves from suffering, we become vulnerable to technology addiction.
Artist Statement:
Technology has made comfort easily accessible. In moments of exhaustion and apathy we can turn to our phones where millions of games, stories, and shows are at our fingertips. Never has the option of distraction been so readily available, and consistent use of technology for entertainment is addicting and eroding to one’s sense of self. … read the rest of the Artist Statement at weredoingitallwrong.com or scan the QR Code.