70×90 cm, oil on canvas
My painting titled “Strand test” was inspired by a visit to Big Major Cay, a small island in the Exumas known for its unique inhabitants—pigs that live freely and peacefully in a tropical paradise while being fed by visitors and caretakers. They spend their days sunbathing and swimming, completely indifferent to their appearance or the opinions of others. As I watched them, I felt an unexpected envy. There was something beautiful and liberating about their complete lack of self-consciousness. They were entirely at home in their bodies—without judgment, comparison, or shame.
The painting explores the themes of body image, freedom, and self-acceptance. As someone who does not conform to traditional body size ideals, this work is a piece of self-critique—imbued with humor and empathy. It is not about mockery or self-deprecation, but about accepting ourselves in a world that constantly forces narrow definitions of beauty upon us. At the same time, it speaks about the importance of self-care and self-awareness: that loving your body can also mean taking responsibility for it, especially when health is at stake.