Instascams (30"x40" canvas)

A single notification hovers inside the eye socket of a skull—a lone “like” suspended in the emptiness. Instascams explores the strange bargain we make when we trade our time, energy, and attention for digital validation. The piece reflects the loneliness of creating, posting, and performing for an audience that may never fully understand what drives us.

At its darkest, the work is about sacrificing pieces of yourself for an app, grinding for approval, and receiving only a fleeting acknowledgment in return. The skull serves as a reminder of the inevitable end waiting for all of us, while the solitary notification becomes a symbol of how little those moments of validation can mean when measured against a lifetime.

But Instascams is not purely cynical. Beneath the critique is a challenge—and a silver lining. The work asks a simple question: if our time is finite, who are we creating for? Is it enough to make something because it matters to you, even if nobody else understands it?

The painting encourages viewers to step away from the endless pursuit of likes, put their phones down, and reconnect with the things that bring genuine fulfillment. We are all moving toward the same destination. The real question is how we choose to spend the time between now and then.

Bold linework, vibrant color contrasts, and layered spray paint textures create a visual tension between life, decay, and the digital world, making Instascams both a meditation on mortality and a reminder to pursue what truly makes you happy.

Details

• Title: Instascams
• Artist: Malcolm Bellew
• Medium: Spray Paint on Canvas
• Size: 30" × 40"
• Original, one-of-one artwork