-11^0.3x

“-11^0.3x” draws inspiration from Alzheimer’s disease, a fatal condition that disrupts communication between different parts of the brain, as well as between the brain and the body’s muscles and organs. This disruption leads to a widespread loss of brain function and results in neurodegeneration, where nerve cells die off. Alzheimer’s is particularly notorious for targeting areas of the brain responsible for memory and learning. 

In this painting, the depiction of disfigured black voids extending across the canvas symbolizes the gaps in memory caused by the disease. More than just representing Alzheimer’s, the piece comments on the profound fear of forgetting. As memories fade, what happens to one's sense of self? Without the memories that shape our identity and ambitions, how can we remain certain of who we are? Entangled in the uncertainty of past and present, how can one determine if they are still the person they once were?

The muted color palette, with its faded oranges and browns, echoes the fleeting nature of life and memory. The title, “-11^0.3x,” derives from a negative exponential math equation. It is representative of the increasing downward slope of memory loss that Alzheimer’s patients face, everything being lost more and more every day.

This painting invites viewers to reflect on their own memories: how much do we truly remember, and how much will we retain in the future? Time, relentless and unyielding, marches on, and with it, our mental deterioration does as well.