This is a series in process. I began it during winter 2022, but only work on it intermitently as the inspiration, based on real-life experiences on social media, for a character arises.

Toxic Tales, a work in process, speaks as an ambiguous commentary on the behaviors fostered by social media. Through self-portraiture, compositing, and digital painting, I reflect on the way people portray themselves in the metaverse.

Conceptualization is at the heart of my artistic process. I tackle each project by asking myself, "What do I need to do? What materials should I use? How should I present it?" In order to effectively communicate my message.

While the series originates from photography, it refuses to be confined by it. I combine my own photography, digital collage, digital painting in each image, then meticulously hand-varnish the final works. The intensiveness of my process mimics and is integral to the concept of creating and maintaining one’s online persona. By breaking free from conventional limitations and merging diverse artistic techniques, I create thought-provoking pieces that transcend boundaries and challenge perceptions.

This series was a 2023 Photolucida Critical Mass Finalist, and was featured in the print edition of FRAMES magazine (volume 12, July 2023) and in an April 2023 feature at Thinking About Photography on Photographers and Collage curated by Ann Mitchell and Ammandine Nabarra.

clicking on a thumbnail will open the images in a lightbox.