CONTACT – Ben Morey

It’s Your Funeral!

2023 | 10.75″ x 8″ | Oil and ink on board
A playful contemplation on mortality depicting a potential design for my own sarcophagus, or elaborate coffin and containing references to toys and TV shows I loved as a child. The central figure, reminiscent of both a doctor and patient, is a metaphor for one’s constant struggle and attempt at balance when it comes to their mental health as we all constantly fluctuate between self-diagnosis, care, medication, hatred, compassion, abuse and healing throughout the course of our lives.

You’re Getting Very Sleepy

2022 | 12″ x 13″ | Oil and ink on board
The decapitated rubber mannequin in You’re Getting Very Sleepy can be seen as an embodiment of futility and hopelessness and how these emotions make one feel less-than-human. It is presented on a stick (or in this case a bare spine) like a crude, tribal warning to stave off these emotions and surrounded by some of the coping mechanisms one clings to to distract from them.

No Teeth

2021 | 34″ x 24″ | Oil and ink on board
No Teeth is an rumination of one the main thesis concepts running throughout my work that explores the idea that we all inhabit the role of both doctor and patient in regards to the upkeep of our mental and physical health throughout life. It functions as a self portrait in which I am attempting to diagnose, treat and analyze myself by drawing and painting issues of personal significance represented metaphorically by objects, characters, toys and medical equipment related to each subject I am working through at the time.

TV-PG

2011 | 34” x 40” | Oil and acrylic on board
TV-PG utilizes the game show set as a stage to cryptically present issues of personal significance upon via imagery and anthropomorphized surrogates that represent concerns with mortality, sexuality and escapism.

Technicolor Dissection

2011 | 24″ x 38″ | Mixed media on board
A visualization of the aftermath of an attempt to dismantle and analyze problematic situations and memories.

Tools Of the Trade

2010 | 20″ x 20″ x 2″ | Oil on board
Objects relating to self medication, diagnosis and analysis are laid out clinically on an imaginary surface in a representation of the metaphorical means by which I analyze myself and my memories to create a residual image of this reflective process.

Master’s Hands

2010 | 21″ x 38″ x 4.5″ | Oil on board
A representation of the omnipresent force that is responsible for the situations within many of my paintings and drawings, acting as a surrogate for my own hand in the work. They are simultaneously in control and “injured” by the process deflating and investigating ideas and old wounds.