Candy Crush 

Alex Gross presents us with an enigmatic portrait set against a background of recognizable, yet decontextualized, symbols of contemporary culture. Candies, like those found in the digital world of mobile games, are scattered around the figure, pointing to the ever-growing influence of technology on our perception of reality. These candies might be seen as the new vanitas symbols. Like skulls in a 17th-century Dutch painting, they remind us of the fleeting nature of pleasure and the transience of our digital obsessions. The young woman, seemingly absorbed in her device, becomes an allegorical figure of our times, reflecting the paradoxical combination of connection and isolation that defines our modern existence. Consider how the glowing colors evoke a sense of artificiality, almost as if we're viewing a digitally enhanced reality rather than a reflection of the natural world. This image prompts us to consider how modern technology engages viewers on a deep, subconscious level, shaping our collective memory. It resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings, in our increasingly digital existence.