Garden Party

“Garden Party” is a richly detailed digital painting which I created following a period of physical illness, anxiety, and emotional withdrawal. During my recovery from severe stomach ulcers and my ongoing long-term struggle with endometriosis, I experienced moments of disconnection. Whereby, I could feel present in body but absent in spirit, caught between survival and progressing.

In this fantastical scene, inspired by computer games, Disney films, and the layered, decorative homes of my Gran and Great Gran, figures appear to celebrate in joyful abundance. however, upon closer inspection, you will note that some guests fade into the background or turn away, embodying quiet withdrawal and hidden struggle.

At the centre sits a cat, staring directly at the viewer. This cat, inspired by the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, personifies the mischievous and misleading nature of my anxiety. It acts as a symbolic threshold between reality and fantasy, inviting viewers to question what is real and what is illusion. The cat was a late addition to the piece and I used an AI image generator to create an underpainting for this cat, before transforming it into its final hand-rendered form. The AI-generated origin of the cat ties directly to my own anxieties and insecurities about the rise of AI in art. 

“Garden Party” reflects on how, in times of permacrisis, escapism becomes both refuge and resistance. While it offers sanctuary, it also prompts us to examine whether we are truly engaging with the world or slipping into avoidance. Can we find hope and security without retreating entirely?