The Oyster Shed Oil

This painting is part of my ongoing Wonderland series, drawing on The Walrus and the Carpenter as a point of departure. The work explores the tension between charm and deception, where persuasive language and apparent warmth conceal more exploitative intentions.

The composition reflects on the dynamic between seduction and vulnerability. Figures are drawn in through flattery and a sense of invitation, only to find themselves within a system that ultimately consumes them. Rather than illustrating the narrative directly, the painting distils its underlying psychology into a symbolic and contemporary context.

Balancing softness with unease, the work considers how power can operate subtly, through persuasion rather than force. As part of the wider Wonderland series, it continues an exploration of familiar literary motifs reimagined as reflections on modern social and psychological structures.