Creature of Habit

“Creature of Habit” uses Coronary Artery Disease, a common heart disease that arises when plaque accumulates in the coronary arteries, to illustrate the self-destructive cycle that claims so many American lives each year. Statistically, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., largely due to our sedentary lifestyle. Recognizing this, it becomes evident that America's greatest threat is its own citizens.

With every new generation that emerges in this country, this cycle persists. To emphasize this, I depicted the disease in the shape of a circle. This representation works because clogged arteries are also illustrated in this form. Years of suffering spiral around the canvas, encircling the blood in the center, symbolizing the mass deaths that occur annually.

A mythological symbol I encountered while creating this piece was Ouroboros, the self-consuming snake. This imagery became central to the artwork, with the snake devouring itself mirroring the way Americans are undermining their own well-being.