"The family junk box," diorama still life oil painting assignment, October 2024

For a painting II class we were given an assignment to make a still life painting of a diorama of our own design.

When thinking of what to make, I thought of using some of the junk I've accumulated in my hallway closet. When trying to think of what to pair it with I first thought of the ocean, but then I thought of the juxtaposition of body and machine that can be found in media like Ultrakill and replaced the water with blood.

More serious ideas then took form as I arranged the materials. I was reminded of the ever present junk in my family's home; old batteries, tangled wires, dead lightbulbs, and such (the alcohol bottles were just for fun). I guess themes of abandonment and indecisiveness.

My family has since moved from that house and has split up in our separate ways. We're happier now on the whole, but I sometimes can't help thinking about what we left behind, even the basement junk boxes.