"So, how was your birthday?" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 11x14 inches / 2023) “So, how was your birthday?” they asked me. I paused briefly before saying it was good, but in that moment of hesitation, I knew my lie was too obvious. The truth is, I’ve actually started to enjoy spending my birthday alone. There’s no pressure to please anyone but myself. And as each year passes, I realize birthdays don’t feel as significant as they once did. It’s just another day, often used a

"Dear people who fucked my childhood" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 16x20 inches / 2024) Some kids grow up surrounded by love, with parents who make them feel safe, valued, and seen. These children learn early on what it means to be cared for and to care for others. But some kids don’t. For them, childhood is defined by neglect and abandonment, leaving scars that follow them for the rest of their lives. A child who grows up unloved doesn’t just experience loneliness—they end

"A woman who's never hungry around me" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 16x20 inches / 2023) When I went to Denny’s late at night a few months ago, there was a waitress constantly watching over a little kid eating alone at the window table. I just thought she was simply paying extra attention to him as it was late at night and he was a little kid without an adult figure. But then as I was about to leave,I saw the waitress lady, now out of uniform, sitting across from the little

"Ending Credits" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 24x30 inches / 2023) When the curtains close, and the play is over, the audience pour out of the theater, carrying with them memories of the performance. For some, the experience will remain engraved in their minds for a lifetime, while others may find their recollection slowly fading away over time. And then there are those who will desperately yearn for another chance to rewatch it again someday. Unfortunately, in this scenari

"Please" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 24x24 inches / 2023) The artwork titled ‘Please’ got its title from my realization of how the intention and meaning behind the word ‘Please’ can vary significantly depending on the context. For instance, a person in a suicidal crisis might plead, “Please let me end my life”, while their loved ones desperately implore them, saying, “Please stay with us”. I wanted to depict a scene that portrays a complicated dilemma between a person who

"I promise today is not your first day" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 16x20 inches / 2023) There was a moment when life felt like a boxing ring, and it seemed as if everything in the world treated him as the opponent, constantly throwing punches at every chance. Beaten down by the world, he couldn't see, speak, or even recognize things in his life; he was beyond exhaustion. He felt partially lifeless, as if he were alive but stuck in an unending coma. And around him, there

"They tell me to survive but they don't know I'm already dead" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 11x14 inches / 2023) There was a moment when life felt like a boxing ring, and it seemed as if everything in the world treated him as the opponent, constantly throwing punches at every chance. Beaten down by the world, he couldn't see, speak, or even recognize things in his life; he was beyond exhaustion. He felt partially lifeless, as if he were alive but stuck in an unending coma.

"So how was your birthday?" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 11x14 inches / 2023) So, how was your birthday?” they asked me. I paused briefly before saying it was good, but in that moment of hesitation, I knew my lie was too obvious. The truth is, I’ve actually started to enjoy spending my birthday alone. There’s no pressure to please anyone but myself. And as each year passes, I realize birthdays don’t feel as significant as they once did. It’s just another day, often used as

"When the partys over" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 30x40 inches / 2023 When your chest feels like an echoing void, even after all the things that usually light up your day, you start to understand that you're in deeper trouble than you thought. This painting captures the hollow ache that settles in after the party fades to silence. You find yourself sitting alone, lost in a haze, as laughter and conversation drift away like whispers in the wind. Watching friends walk out

"Self love: I destroy myself so you can't" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 20x24 inches / 2023 You only destroy yourself because you refuse to let others destroy you anymore. And that’s okay. Self-deconstruction can be seen as another form of self-love. However, do not forget to remind yourself that you are capable of protecting yourself without resorting to self-deconstruction. If the world turns its back on you and people point a fun at you, simply allow them to do so and l

"I told you I was sad" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 16x20 inches / 2023 This painting, titled "I Told You I Was Sad," depicts the harsh reality of living in a world where seeking help for our declining mental health feels overly complicated and challenging and also how, as human beings, we aren't capable of stepping into someone's life and simply fixing their problems, as depression is sometimes like multiple layers of doors that don't have handles on both sides. Additional

"Are you okay" by PQHAÜS (Acrylic on canvas / 18x24 inches / 2024 I wasn’t having a good day, but once again, it was one of those days where everyone thought I was fine. I’ve gotten too good at pretending. As usual, I pulled into my driveway, but this time, I couldn’t make myself get out of the car. The car was still, but my mind was a wreck, like a totaled Fiat hit by a dump truck. I kept asking myself questions I didn’t have answers to, but I couldn’t stop. Not a single p