Four Feet Under

A deep rut in the relationship is explained in this story inspired by Gregory Crewdson. The couple portrayed just moved into this home and paused an argument a...
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A deep rut in the relationship is explained in this story inspired by Gregory Crewdson. The couple portrayed just moved into this home and paused an argument after a regretful sentence the man left out in the air. He decides to walk away from it by drowning in alcohol and tabacco. Lost in his thoughts and unaware of the presence of any living entity, he sits in silence. Questioning whether she should talk to her boyfriend once again and resolve the argument, the woman opens the door quietly, waiting in hesitation and agonizing pain. The characters worked into the tile of the pool show “4FT.” This may be only evidence of an actual pool to the viewer, but that is not the reason for inclusion. The term six feet under is about death and burying a corpse according to that depth. This couple’s relationship is four feet under. It is at the point where they could end it by saying one more sentence, word, or phrase, or they could save it before their love is buried under the dirt. The pool toy symbolizes that they have the ability to save the relationship and strengthen it at any moment in time, but the man does not notice it, is not even impacted by it whatsoever. The papers on the ground to the left resemble finance and the success it leads to if they follow through with it. The patterns on their clothing match, which emphasizes that connection they have with one another that seems to be hanging on a thread. The warm lighting behind the woman emphasizes the angelic qualities of her. The cold atmosphere around the man shows the emptiness. The opposing temperature shows his willingness to fall six feet under when he is only a couple more away.

Featured in the McHenry County College Student Art Exhibition (May 2017). Part of the Permanent Art Collection at the McHenry County College (May 2017).
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