These paintings are from a body of work where my recurring cycloptic alien protagonist has lost his pet bird, leaving him to alternate between searching for his friend and finding solace in distraction. Seemingly fascinated by anything, no matter how mundane, to the point of being transfixed, his search often takes a back seat to his short attention span, yet even his frivolous endeavors remain shrouded in a vague, bird-shaped melancholy.

However, the search for his bird serves to underline what seems to be the character’s more important search: for meaning—presumably, he just wants to know why he is here, where he comes from, and if he can find happiness regardless of the inquiry’s result. So, although his bird has gone missing, the narrative is left purposefully loose, allowing him to wonder over his purpose and place in a confusing world, which in turn presents the opportunity for me to use him as an avatar in wondering over our own.