Icons

The inspiration for this body of work emerged during the pandemic year, a period marked by society’s eager acceptance of any information about the novel virus. I found myself dismayed by the widespread readiness to adhere unquestioningly to government mandates, a response that bred considerable stress.
This era was characterized by a reliance on media narratives and the implementation of seemingly irrational lockdown protocols, culminating in a pervasive sense of chaos.

I was astounded by the herd-like behavior of individuals who digested media content without a hint of critical analysis. This observation led me to reflect on the broader implications of a lack of analytical thinking, which I believe contributes to the acceptance of absurd lifestyle, wellness, and beauty standards among other things.

Drawing parallels with the medieval plague era, where people turned to the church for solace, the pandemic years illustrated a modern equivalent where electronic devices served as conduits to new forms of idolatry. In this digital age, influencers and media figures have become the new saints and icons, with gadgets facilitating our devotion to them.

This series aims to offer a satirical examination of these phenomena, questioning the identities of contemporary icons and the criteria for health and beauty standards.