Contemporary Charmer II, 2023
Information :
Contemporary Charmer II expands the original drawing into a monumental scale, transforming the hybrid image of a necktie and cobra into an imposing presence. The necktie, associated with professionalism, authority, and institutional legitimacy, gradually becomes the body and head of a cobra, introducing ideas of seduction, danger, and mistrust. Rooted in my experiences navigating immigration and legal systems, the work reflects the complicated relationship between vulnerability and those positioned as professional advocates or representatives.
Drawing directly onto wood gives the image a physical and architectural weight that differs from the intimacy of graphite on paper. At eight feet tall, the familiar accessory becomes almost bodily, confronting the viewer at human scale and turning a seemingly respectable object into something potentially threatening. The visible grain of the wood remains part of the image, creating tension between the controlled graphite rendering and the irregularity of the material. Through humor and visual contradiction, the work questions how authority presents itself, whom we are asked to trust, and how quickly protection can become a source of vulnerability.
