“Ego Death”
24”x24”
Acrylic on canvas
What does an ego death represent to you? To me it is the removal of oneself from their current state, whether that be physically, mentally, or spiritually. There are moments in life where you must face the question of can this part of me come with me? And the struggle that comes with that is the comfort, the validation, the enjoyment of the life and person you once was. “Ego Death” is a physical representation of literally breaking yourself apart to shed a new being. However, that comes with the parts of you or others that may hold you back. Attempting to leave you chained and bound to the person you are no longer as you reach out to the new healed, growing, and understanding version of yourself.
The Sketch
When creating this piece, I wanted to focus on the struggle of removing oneself from their old identity and habits. And for me that’s been a tug-of-war battle that switches between progress and temptation to remain in the comfort of what I know.
The feeling to me felt like I had to remove myself from my current identity and being to get closer to where I wanted to be. Which led to the literal demonstration of the figure “spirit” detatching from his body as he’s being pulled down by these hands which some may also interpret as his old self.