Katie St Johnston Narcissus Oil on Canvas

Katie St Johnston

Narcissus
Oil on Canvas
60 x 84 cm
2020
NFS

Cranleigh School

This painting emerged as a result of my fascination with the relationship between the individual self and their own inner emotions and characteristics. I wanted to explore the darker side of this, the ugly and more shocking traits that an individual can possess, such as their obsessions, addictions, desires and pleasures (the Seven Deadly Sins). In today's society, the ubiquity of mobile phones and social media use becoming greater and greater is bringing about the exponential growth of narcissism. Narcissism (excessive or obsessive interest in oneself and one’s physical appearance) and the way that it can be depicted, became the main focus within my work. Thus I thought that this was a contemporary, captivating concept that should be addressed and possibly even confronted. I chose red as a dominant colour to the work, as it adds power and passion, and it emanates emotion. I used the colour quite excessively in the painting, giving rise to a sense of foreboding and tension. Red is such a familiar and obvious colour, whether it’s blushing skin, blood rising to our faces and the surface of our bodies, on our hands when we have gripped something hard; it's the colour of anger, of red wine, of passion and many materials and foods. It also pairs well with the lighter, more vibrant yellows on the materials, and the cooler beige background. I did not want to create a relationship between the figures, but rather within their individual selves, so I kept them emotionally distant, despite them physically sharing a bath and being close to one another. I did this because I wanted their narcissistic and posed stares at the viewer to be individual and therefore more powerful and piercing.