Living in a Box

Living in a Box began as an exploration of confinement—not necessarily physical confinement, but the invisible structures people build around themselves. Expectations, fears, memories, routines and unanswered questions can gradually become walls that feel every bit as real as concrete.

The woman sits quietly within such a space. At first glance, the room appears ordinary, but the longer one looks, the less stable it becomes. The walls bend. The floor begins to fracture. The familiar geometry of the room slowly dissolves, suggesting a reality that may exist as much in the mind as in the physical world.

One of the painting’s central symbols is the red telephone. It stands out sharply against the muted surroundings, demanding attention while remaining silent. Is the woman waiting for a call? Is she hoping for it, or fearing it? The painting offers no answer. Instead, the telephone becomes a symbol of possibility itself—of news not yet received, conversations not yet had, and futures not yet known.

Nearby, a black cat observes the scene without judgment, while a small spider quietly inhabits its own corner of the room. These silent witnesses add to the sense that something important is happening, even though no visible action takes place.

The painting was never intended to provide a clear narrative. Instead, it invites viewers to reflect on their own experiences of waiting, uncertainty, loneliness, anticipation and the strange ways in which the mind can reshape the spaces we inhabit.

This acrylic painting combines figurative elements with symbolic and surrealist influences. The composition contrasts the soft organic form of the woman against a rigid geometric environment that gradually loses its order and stability.

The limited colour palette is interrupted by the striking red telephone, creating a focal point that immediately attracts attention. Other symbolic elements, including the clock, cat, spider and dark opening behind the figure, encourage personal interpretation rather than providing fixed meanings.

Rather than telling a specific story, Living in a Box explores themes of psychological space, isolation, anticipation, perception and emotional uncertainty. The painting deliberately leaves many questions unanswered, allowing viewers to discover their own narrative within the scene.

• Read more: The story behind the painting