Toxic Masculinity

IMG: rt4a, Toxic Masculinity, 2022, acrylic and pencil on cotton canvas, 59 × 59 × 5 cm
Toxic Masculinity

2022
Acrylic and pencil on cotton canvas
59 × 59 × 5 cm
RT4A2204
Courtesy of the artist

A critical self-portrait, Toxic Masculinity comes from a sequence of forty-four messages: a single photograph, then nineteen memojis and twenty-five heart stickers, which together form one illustration. The spree shows the extremes to which love and boredom can drive someone.

The title names what is toxic in the image. It is almost absurd to picture the recipient bombarded with forty-four notifications, only to work out that the sender is testing their feelings and showing affection at the same time, in a sticky way, perhaps endearing, more likely irritating.

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