Inspired by the haunting Pomník obětem komunismu in Prague by sculptor Olbram Zoubek, which depicts a single man in various stages of physical decay, this piece explores a modern progression of state-enforced erasure. While Zoubek’s work reflects the Soviet-era suppression of Czechia, my drawing translates this concept into the digital age, illustrating how privacy and autonomous thought are dismantled until the individual themselves disappears.

The composition functions as a chronological timeline. On the far left, an individual prepares to attend a civil protest within the supposed safety of their home. Yet, the shadowed figure in the window, representing the surveillance of the present, signals the immediate death of privacy. This intrusion transforms a private act of conscience into a “crime” of non-conformity.

The center of the piece illustrates the weaponization of personal data. By featuring social media fragments and “loyalty” assessments, the work mirrors the contemporary American landscape where digital screening has become a tool for ideological vetting. Today, U.S. visa applicants and travelers are increasingly required to disclose years of social media history, where “anti-administration” sentiments can lead to denials, detention, or the revocation of status. In this context, speaking out is no longer a protected right but a liability that can bar a person from country or rip them away from their loved ones.

This piece serves as a stark reminder for a modern audience: when surveillance is used to enforce conformity, the ultimate cost is the personhood and freedom of the individual.

Artistic Process

Drawn with an Apple Pencil (2nd generation) using Procreate Complete Art Studio for iPadOS 26. I have an iPad Pro 12.9 in. (4th generation). Additionally, I use multiple replacement pencil tips to create different textures (along with the texture tools embedded within Procreate) and a Paperlike screen protector on the tablet itself.