The Weight of Gold

This piece examines the weight of societal expectations to pursue success defined by monetary gain rather than genuine passion. A ballerina’s slipper sinks into a fish tank void of life, symbolizing the emptiness that emerges when creativity is measured by transaction instead of authenticity. The water’s surface is reflective yet confining in an attempt to reflect this tension between external validation and inner fulfillment. Through layered brushstrokes and refracted light, I sought to create a sense of heaviness and distortion - capturing how the pursuit of prestige can submerge one’s sense of purpose.