"The SoA" series (open)

The series is dedicated to my research on Addiction and is called "The Story of Addiction". While some people associate addiction with solely substance abuse, there are other types of addiction that people rarely think of or consider harmful. I would like to talk about all of them. This topic seems to be not so much part of the art world nowadays (or I just may be unaware of it) and very often it even seems taboo. But it is no longer invisible. And even though some types of addiction have never been part of my experience (like substance abuse), I have to admit that addiction affects us all. And we have to acknowledge it and talk about it.

Medical News Today: "There is substance addiction and non-substance addiction. Some examples of non-substance addiction include:

• gambling
• food
• Internet
• gaming
• cell phone
• sex
• love"

Unfortunately, most people today have one or the other type of addiction, and all of them lead to harmful consequences (including domestic violence).

Winter'24 | KD: Be Kind chapter

This is the first chapter of the series, where I tell one story of addiction, try to share my reflections on this topic, and also ask myself and the viewer to be kinder towards people in need. We need to acknowledge and overcome our negative attitudes. The story appeared under the influence of a documentary about Kensington, Philadelphia, and was called "Kensington Diaries: Be Kind".

Summer'24 | Spells and Sparks chapter

The second chapter of "The SoA" series delves into the complex nature of love as an addiction, exploring the range of emotions individuals experience when they are in love, or perceive themselves to be in love.

Love addiction manifests through various symptoms, indicating a profound dependency on the romantic partner: 

• Needing to be in love at all times
• Elevating the romantic partner to an unrealistic status
• Obsessing over thoughts and actions related to the romantic interest
• Experiencing cravings, similar to those of substance addiction
• Feeling withdrawal symptoms when away from the partner
• Experiencing euphoria when together, contrasted with dependency on their presence

The series is also my reflection on the infatuation phase. `It is a captivating yet turbulent period often characterized by intense emotions and overwhelming attraction. This phenomenon, which can be likened to a chemical reaction in the brain, frequently manifests as a form of love addiction. During this period, thoughts of the other person flood the mind. 

Whilst we can spend days describing those states in words, I am trying to transfer these through my art. Art serves as a profound medium for expressing complex emotions and states that words often fail to capture. Through color, texture, and form, I am trying to render feelings of joy, sorrow, tranquility, chaos, etc., allowing viewers to connect on a deeper level.