5 editions have been reserved for the artist.

‘The Awakening’ is an autobiographical self-portrait, drawing inspiration from my life with my chronic skin condition, alongside my recent delving into the world of science fiction. This work explores the idea of self-awareness and questions the notion of the pre-programming of who we are supposed to be, whether dictated by societal conditioning, computer coding or design.

Influenced by the sci-fi masterpieces ranging from one of the earliest looks at man-made life in Mary Shelly’s ‘Frankenstein’, to the more recent HBO’s ‘Westworld’, I look at how artificial intelligence and, in particular, android ‘hosts’ are rendered in the very specific eye of their creator. From pre-programmed scripts that drive their very being down to the absence of unaccounted scars, moles or birthmarks. In ‘The Awakening’, I use the unexpected markings left by the revolver as a metaphor for the birth of consciousness with all its consequences.

On a practical level, the physical and logistical challenges involved in using my skin as a canvas amplify the metaphorical struggle for control over my own narrative. It represents reclaiming my bodily autonomy and breaking from a pre-programmed identity. With the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, this work also prompts the question: Where is the gun?