This self-portrait emulates my feelings of life passing by too quickly, as seen by the fluid background and the contrasting semi-realistic figures. I need to embrace that life is fluid, and not hold onto my desires too tightly. In the center, I am trying to cling to my desires, yet I have clung to these desires too hard, and my hands now bleed, prickled by the sharp stars of desire. 

The background incorporates different versions of myself, all existing simultaneously.

 

Ultimately, this piece depicts life's chaos and pain, urging the viewer to LIVE, despite all this turmoil and lost desires. 

Shriya Sharma 29' is an emerging artist from Statham, GA. Her art explores the pursuit of stability in an environment shaped by the ever-moving nature of time, while delving into themes of dreams, the confining nature of illness, and her Indian identity. 

 

Time is running out in this microuniverse. The lantern-carrying figure struggles to find something. The bright, glowing lights in the background symbolize lost souls, and perhaps if the lantern bearer cannot find their "something" in time, they will also become one of these lost souls. 

Detail of the mysterious figure in the upper right corner of the piece 

 

Detail of one of the lost souls held by the black ghostly figure. 

Speak no evil, Say no evil, and Hear no evil detail. 

 

A blotchy black splatter that contains my childhood self stains this piece, reminding me of my desires and dreams, which I fear that I may not have enough time to fulfill. 

Transcription | Voice Note [2025-12-25 20:41]
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A blotchy black splatter that contains my childhood self stains this piece, reminding me of my desires and dreams which I fear I might not have enough time to fulfill.

The deathly figures fear their mortality. They remain isolated in time, separated from the lively landscape in the background. 

This piece represents how medical issues can make one feel detached from the rest of their surroundings and peers, and how severe medical problems can cause a hyperfixation on time.

 

This is a depiction of me after kidney surgery. I stare away from the yellow light, symbolizing that my time to go has not come yet. 

My childhood self is the bearer of my soul. My kidneys and the clock are emphasized, showing how my feeling of time running out correlates with my health issues. Sometimes my childhood self dominates, other times my older self does. 

As I grow older, I am more dominated by the fear of time. Am I fulfilling my dreams? Am I doing enough? Will my health sustain me? Do I have enough time? 

The skeleton representing mortality presses upon the head of the human-like figure, meant to represent me. The varying emphasis on the negative and positive space adds an element of confusion to the piece. 

Transcription | Voice Note [2025-12-25 20:44]
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The skeleton representing mortality presses upon the head of the human-like figure meant to represent me. The bearing emphasis on the negative and positive space adds an element of confusion to the piece.

This self-portrait deals with the overwhelming nature of life and time.

 An overgrowth of elements is depicted as Hindi and English texts, small doodles, eyes, trees, and abstract designs, all collide with each other. 

 This piece is a morbid rebirth of myself as I am tangled in a multitude of visual elements and my hair, yet a new version of myself emerges silently protruding through my chest.

 This new self is broken and scarred in the face of time's chaos.