"Laid off"
"Laid" by PQHAÜS
(Acrylic on canvas / 30x40 inches / 2022)
Having a job is more than just a means of earning a living; it provides a sense of purpose and identity. However, when this vital aspect of our lives is suddenly taken away, it can shake the very foundation of our existence, causing us to question our worth and doubt our abilities. This self-destructive cycle of thought can lead to a sense of detachment from the world around us, where we no longer find joy or passion in anything we do. My painting seeks to capture this feeling of disconnection that arises when we are laid off from our job.
The first symbolism I'd like to talk about is the irony that he delivers food for others and yet has nothing to feed himself. This specific image was to show a brutal dilemma or reality that many people can go through these days. Additionally, the man in the painting appears to be in tears in front of a cracked egg, but it is clear that the broken egg is not the reason for his emotional distress. Instead, it represents the indescribable emotional stress and suffering that the man is going through, emphasizing his fragility as a man, and as a human on earth. Lastly, the way the man's earphones are unplugged but remain in his ears, shows that he voluntarily needs to tune out the world for his own peace.
Reading your piece on being “laid off” brought back the night I got the call two years ago. I was still fresh out of college, eager to prove myself, and the news arrived just before a deadline that I’d been pulling all-nighters to meet. The initial panic was overwhelming; my mind raced through rent, student loans, and the fear of explaining the situation to my parents. I remember sitting at the kitchen table, coffee gone cold, and scrolling through endless advice articles while the house was quiet except for the hum of the refrigerator https://www.lifeline.org.au/ In the days that followed, I took on freelance projects I never would have considered before, and slowly, a new network of contacts emerged. It…