Original artwork description:

This painting explores the idea of co-dependency with couples in a dysfunctional relationship.

A woman looks out the window after a blazing row with her partner has led him to leave, again. The woman comforts herself with the notion that he will be back as he has nowhere else really to go but here.
This painting explores the idea of being co-dependent in a relationship, the unhealthy dependence on another for self affirmation and esteem. Co-dependency is a common theme in addiction, including love addiction.

Although the woman looks confident, almost arrogant even, that he will return, her face and expression tell a story of relationship abuse and delusion. When the abnormal becomes normal then it just feels like normal.

This is the fifth painting in a series of paintings I have embarked on, called "Sinister Selfies"; a project of paintings which distorts the idea of selfies. Instead of being snapshots of rampant narcissism in various sunny or celebratory locations, they instead invite and allow the viewer into a world which implies darker human realities such as addiction, co-dependency, trauma, terror, abuse, disgust, self loathing, disintegration of self and dissociation.
All areas of human experience close to my heart, so to speak.
Instead of snapshots of mindless self idolatry these sinister selfies give us a peak into other's lives and their discordant emotions and psychology and also into our shared communally lives generally and more presciently.
They reveal the aspects of self and humanity we would rather hide away, the sometimes unpalatable, even disturbing reality behind the facade we maintain in public.
Essentially I use a icon of our time, the Smartphone selfie, to turn a our gaze onto so-called darker elements of the human condition, mainly using heightened vibrant colour, distorted imagery and odd sized canvas.

Materials used:

oil on linen canvas

Tags:

#james henry johnston #peoplee #love addiction #scene from everyday life #relaitonships #co-dependency #portrait #woman #expressive #urban #artfinder #addiction