Death of Narcissus is an installation comprising a 24 x 25 cm acrylic self-portrait on canvas suspended on the rear wall; a human figure concealed beneath a red cloth and holding a bouquet of narcissus flowers; and a thick embroidered fabric canopy that cascades from the ceiling. Together, these elements create a space reminiscent of a shrine, resting place, or altar dedicated to an absent presence. The atmosphere is contemplative and solemn, yet comforting. The suspended fabric compresses the open space below while remaining permeable to soft, diffused light, creating a delicate sense of enclosure and breath.

 

The self-portrait depicts a solitary figure seated in darkness, dressed in royal blue robes. Positioned between the viewer and the painted figure is a single candle towards which both direct their gaze, completing a symbolic circle of observation and reflection. As the figure draws a card from a tarot deck, the inverted Devil card is revealed, while the opposite hand presents a circular mark upon the palm. These symbols suggest cycles of transformation, self-confrontation, and liberation from attachment.

 

Death of Narcissus emerged from a period of intense introspection and self-examination. During this time, I became deeply engaged with mythology, spirituality, tarot, folklore, and the symbolic systems through which people have sought meaning throughout history. The work reflects a desire to turn inward, treating self-discovery as both a personal responsibility and a lifelong pursuit.

 

Through the installation, I sought to cleanse myself of accumulated influences from the external world and reconnect with a more intuitive and authentic sense of self. Nature became a vehicle for purification and renewal, while spiritual practices and symbolic rituals offered guidance. The work embodies an acceptance of forces beyond the individual self, drawing upon the idea of ancestral wisdom, higher consciousness, and unseen energies as companions in a process of personal transformation.