ARTWORKS
Behind The Work of “Modern Snacks”
Smartphones are not only a means of connecting with people but also a necessity to help you carry your files around wherever you go, ensuring that you are always with important documents for work or your personal life. The wide variety of smartphones is the main driver for many people’s desire to change the gadget often, even though it is unnecessary. This is the main reason many smartphone manufacturing companies are trying to produce the best products on the market. Some people change phones due to getting bored quickly and want to try out the new models available in the market to follow the trend of the current technological developments.
The smartphone depicted in this artwork is symbolic of the snack, as it is designed to make you addicted to them and use them repeatedly. Snacks are delicious, extremely convenient, and nearly impossible to put down. The same goes for the psychological manipulation by the manufacturing company. Many consumers are trapped and often follow their internal urges to keep switching to new phones, despite spending so much money that they are willing to go into debt.
Close-Up
I’m using stippling as a method where I created the entire piece using small dots. It took me 2 months to complete this artwork, as I wanted to ensure every dot was placed thoughtfully to achieve the desired realism.
Behind The Process
I made this large-scale drawing that reflects a fascinating aspect of our modern society. This drawing was made back in 2022. The medium I used for this artwork is ink on paper. The size of the piece is 78 x 113 cm, which allowed me to capture the intricate details I was aiming for.
I used my friend as a model, capturing their expression and emotions through the stippling technique. I bought a faulty smartphone from a phone repair service shop to use as a prop during a photoshoot. This drawing highlights the addiction and psychological manipulation that can come with our obsession with smartphones.
In a world where smartphones have become both a necessity and a source of addiction, I wanted to shed light on the allure of constantly upgrading to the latest models. Let’s remember that we shouldn’t let our internal urges control us to the point of going into debt just to keep up with the latest trends.
Display
This artwork has been exhibited in multiple group exhibitions. The first one was at the HOM Art Trans in Kuala Lumpur back in 2022 and then, in June of that same year, it made its way to the Zhan Art Space in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. It was such a surreal experience seeing my creation on display alongside other incredible artists’ works. I’m thrilled to see how people resonate with the symbolism and the commentary it offers on our relationship with technology.
Merchandise
Visit noorzahran.com to see more artworks.
