Sleep Paralysis

Medium: Acrylic paint, medication warning labels, thickening agents on canvas

Size: 30x24 inches

Sleep Paralysis is a deeply personal exploration, a visual testament to a turbulent chapter of life. This painting emerged during a period of profound self-discovery and artistic liberation while in college. At first, I hesitated to unveil its raw intensity, but its creation marked a pivotal turning point.

During one of the darkest phases of my life, when I grappled with the unsettling realities of medication trials for narcolepsy, this piece was born. It serves as a haunting reflection of the struggles I faced. I used the warning labels from the various medications that defined this journey to construct a sinister sleep paralysis demon, an entity that had tormented me throughout.

The canvas is an abyss of deep black, a reflection of the ominous depths of this experience. In the center, a ghostly white female figure hunches over in a fetal position. Her hair shrouds her face, and the medication warnings wrap around her leg, contorted in an agonizing direction.

The sleep paralysis demon looms with angry, red, glowing eyeballs and sharp, sculpted teeth that seem to break free from the confines of the painting itself. It's a visceral manifestation of the torment I endured.

In the dark background, a red X, a medical symbol, takes on a sinister glow, intertwined with the staff and serpent, symbols layered with multiple interpretations. They are a testament to the complexity of the human condition, both the hope and the struggle, the healing and the harm.

Sleep Paralysis is more than a painting; it's a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, an exploration of the profound depths of the subconscious, and a visual journey through the complexities of the human condition. It's a reminder that from the darkest moments, art can emerge as a beacon of understanding and catharsis