"The Naked Truth: How Far Should Art Go to Gain Visibility?"

"My creative journey, depicted in my painting series 'Shadows,' focuses on my deepest fears of failure and lack of recognition in my art. The painting 'Do I Need to Strip?' is not just a rhetorical question but a social critique of the provocative marketing sometimes required to succeed in the art industry. It addresses societal demands for more exposure, more display, and breaking the boundaries of privacy and intimacy.

The first painting in the series, 'Please, Don't Kill My Art,' offers a visual interpretation of these concerns. The second painting, 'Is It Because of Our Skin Color?' brings to the discussion the racial social impacts affecting the perception and promotion of art.

The third painting includes the tough question- 'Do I Need to Strip?' and outlines a critical path on how I, as an artist, cope with marketing my art. The question of whether one needs to strip to promote art is not just a marketing question but also a critique of the visual culture we live in. Audiences are drawn to what disturbs, tempts, or is provocative, which can create a moral dilemma for artists seeking recognition or advancement.

This question opens a discussion on the tension between creation and the cultural and social context in which it is presented, and the boundaries I, as an artist, need to consider crossing. Artistic expression can exist in many ways, not necessarily through physical exposure or provocation. Yet, in an era where the visual image is so powerful and there is a high demand for visibility, it's hard to ignore the effectiveness of visual provocation.

I find myself grappling with this marketing dilemma, whether to cross the boundaries of the self to promote my art. Provocation in art can serve as a way to convey a message, provoke thought, or change narratives, yet there is also a risk that the profound message I seek to convey may get lost among fleeting attention waves. The question of whether one needs to 'strip' before society goes deeper on an ideological level, how much I as an artist need or want to expose my true life and emotions in my work.

Ultimately, the challenge is to find the right balance between being true to my principles and penetrating a broader market without compromising the integrity of my work."