"What happened to you" by PQHAÜS

"What happened to you" by PQHAÜS

(Acrylic on canvas / 20x24 inches / 2022)

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As you are no longer labeled as a kid in society, things you once thought were easy start to seem extremely difficult. Whether it’s working multiple part-time jobs to pay off your college debt or finding yourself in a situation where you must take on your least favorite profession just to make ends meet, the challenges of adulthood can be overwhelming. There isn’t much we can do about it, as gaining independence is the first step into adulthood.

As unexpected dramas and events unfold while trying to survive as adults, we tend to narrow our fantasies and dreams. We naturally become discouraged by our perceptions of life. Some may feel greedy for pursuing their passions while their families are barely making ends meet, while others may believe it’s too late to start, especially when they see their peers already building successful careers.

Yet, from the perspective of someone in their 50s, they might wish they had chased their dreams in their 30s. Similarly, someone in their 80s may regret not pursuing their passions in their 40s or 50s. Ultimately, it isn’t the world that defines when it’s too late for us to follow our hearts; the only person who determines this notion of “it’s too late to chase our dreams” is ironically ourselves.

This is why the grown individuals in the painting can see younger versions of themselves through the cracked mirrors. Although their dreams may feel shattered, it doesn’t mean they are eternally gone. As people often say, “The bigger your dreams are, the bigger the pieces you get when they shatter.” It doesn’t matter how old we are or what those shattered pieces look like; what truly matters is what we choose to do with them.