At 52: What Now?, 2026
synthetic polymer paint on canvas 
(H) 75 x (W) 75 x (D) 2 cm

Image: artist 

At 52, living with ADHD, I paint myself caught in a moment of shock. My gaze does not meet the viewer, but is fixed on something beyond the picture plane. Since COVID-19, a constant flow of negative news has intensified my mental state, generating a persistent undercurrent of stress and anxiety. My pulse beats at a quickened rhythm between fear and anticipation. My mouth is open, uttering these words: What now? Painting this becomes a way to circulate anxiety and release tension. These tactile, thread-like marks, drawn from memories of my mother mending clothes, regulate focus and steady the mind.