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This work was part of an immersive exhibition of new works in October, 2025, titled In the Company of Paintings.
Exhibition Description:
You notice what seems to look like a toast between a man in a black bowtie and a portrait in the likeness of himself. As you observe him, you realize his shoulders are squared to seal himself off, his jaw locked against the slip, and gaze fixed on the painting as though composure might hold if he stares long enough. The gesture is tense, and he seems unsure which of them feels more lifeless.
His vigilance on his composure drains from his hand as the glass tilts and liquid threatens to spill. You can almost smell the oil on him and see it behind him. You know others can too; fortune can gild a frame, but it can’t purchase perception.
In the portrait he salutes, he sits instead, glass still in hand, a pocket watch pressing into his palm. It doesn’t steady him but instead threatens him.
You are observing two versions of the man: one straining to control your gaze, the other proving your gaze can never be controlled. The toast rises, but it collapses in the space between him and his own reflection.
