Bed of Thorns

"Bed of Thorns" began as a curiosity. Lacking inspiration, I stumbled upon a National Geographic article about flesh-eating bacteria. Fascinated, I researched Necrotizing Fasciitis and was horrified by images of decayed limbs but captivated by the bacteria's intricate, beautiful patterns under a microscope. This contrast inspired me to connect it to toxic relationships, which, like this bacteria, destroy from within while retaining its allure. To express this, I painted jagged shapes intertwined with rounded clusters in red, pink, and purple hues, symbolizing the chaotic yet captivating nature of toxic love. I titled the piece "Bed of Thorns" to reflect the contradictory nature of these poisonous relationships: something designed for comfort and repose, twisted and mangled into an addictive cycle of returning to destructive relationships, driven by the occasional moments of false hope. Through this work, I challenge the audience to reflect on their lives: Can beauty exist in something toxic?