Zombies in modern society

Oil painting on canvas, submitted for 'O'-level marking.

Write up:

Words have allot of different meanings to different people, based on the context and circumstances on which they are used. “Damage” as we know it - is a word typically used to refer to inanimate objects, like appliances, Cars or toys. Things once new, which then, through some accident or simple wear and tear, are changed forever into a mere shadow of their former glory.

Singapore is a country where everyone is so wholly focused on their work or academics at such an extreme level, that things like recreation and even day-to-day routines or activities are forsaken and neglected - left to rot.

Following this theme of ‘damage’, I was intrigued by the idea that people not just objects could be subject to their very own kind of damage. While the concept of the zombie might seem immature and juvenile to the cynical eye - like the ‘boogieman’, I found their single-mindedness, lack of direction, total lack of a conscious and their complete inability to free themselves of their situation, to be a striking metaphor of what is happening to our modern, achievement obsessed society.

When you look upon this painting you see a neglected city, having collapsed into ruin, forsaken by its once living population. Just like the way a fresh water pond stagnates and is overrun by green algae when the water stops flowing, the city itself dies through neglect and becomes a sickly green - the color of rot and death. Mindless citizens shamble down the streets towards their jobs or daily chores, oblivious to the long forgotten ideas like family, fun or recreation All of these things just a bright, but nonetheless fading light at the start of the path to ruin - The days of transient glory marked by distant lightning in the sky.

It is important to remember the difference between damage and destruction. Damage is often the precursor to its cousin destruction, and as such this painting shows these mindless ’Zombies’ on the road to destruction - in a state of irreversible damage. If one looks closely enough at their dead faces, they might find them uncannily similar to the work-weary faces of the people you see moving about in droves on the street in Singapore’s central business district. All of them tired and mindless, a kind of living death with no end in sight.

This painting of mine illustrates how our overburdened lifestyles as well societies expectations gave birth to the modern zombie. You need only look around you In this city, if you want to see for yourself what pressure can do to large groups of people.