Morbid, acrylic
Darrell Wang
Carmel High School | Junior
My name is Darrell Wang and I’m a sixteen year old artist. I have been drawing since I can remember, and for my whole life the only goal I’ve had as an artist is to enjoy the process of creation. Of course, I enjoy the process more as I get better at it, so I suppose I also strive to improve my skills. I love creating something that becomes my new favorite piece, becoming unsatisfied with it, and creating a new favorite piece again. This desire to “one-up” myself is something I’ve noticed in other aspects of my life as well, be it video-gaming or school: I always try to improve.
This piece stemmed from an idea I’ve had for a long time. I had the basic idea of a “memento mori” type piece in my mind with certain emotions that I wanted to convey, but when I tried to picture them on a canvas, I couldn’t come up with anything to capture those emotions. A key component I wanted to convey was duality; I wanted it to feel sentimental and serene, while also having an element of chaos. Through observation I noticed that the universe seems to work in twos--male and female, good and evil, life and death--and I wanted to depict the presence of duality in a thing as seemingly single and absolute as death. Yes there are skulls, and a sense of chaotic oblivion--but there is also a comforting hand caressing a face, and the unity of two beings, and a community of others who share the same fate. This is how I interpret my art, but I also want the viewer to interpret it their way as well.