Lost in the Mirrow

“Lost in the Mirror” portrays the inner turmoil of a figure caught between extremes—beauty and ugliness, exuberance and despair. Inspired by the story of Frankenstein, the piece reflects the emotional duality many of us feel. One moment, there is a sense of vitality and excitement; the next, we are overwhelmed by feelings of isolation, as if we’re stitched together from parts that don’t quite fit.

The face, rendered in dramatic shadows and harsh contrasts, seems both alive and incomplete, like a soul grappling with its own identity. The hollow eyes, devoid of light, speak to those moments when we feel detached, as though we are looking inward and not recognizing what we see.

The loose, gestural strokes that make up the figure’s features leave space for ambiguity, mirroring the unpredictable shifts in emotion that define the human experience. There is a beauty in the rawness, but also a deep vulnerability that lingers beneath the surface.

Papayon’s exploration of this fragmented identity reminds us that, like Frankenstein, we all have parts of ourselves that feel monstrous at times, yet they are inseparable from the whole. “Lost in the Mirror” is a powerful reflection on the tension between self-acceptance and rejection, light and shadow, and the constant dance between feeling whole and broken.

Size: 14 x 11"