Toxic Tales
examining behavior on social media
clicking on a thumbnail will open the images in a lightbox.
STATEMENT
This is a series in process. I began it during winter 2022, but only work on it intermittently as the inspiration for a character arises based on real-life experiences on social media.
Toxic Tales speaks as an ambiguous commentary on the behaviors fostered by social media. Through self-portraiture, compositing, and digital painting, I reflect on the way people portray themselves in the metaverse.
Conceptualization is at the heart of my artistic process. I tackle each project by asking myself, "What do I need to do? What materials should I use? How should I present it?" In order to effectively communicate my message.
While the series originates from photography, it refuses to be confined by it. I combine my own photography, digital collage, digital painting in each image, then print and meticulously hand-varnish the final works. The intensiveness of my process mimics and is integral to the concept of creating and maintaining one’s online persona. By breaking free from conventional limitations and merging diverse artistic techniques, I create thought-provoking pieces that transcend boundaries and challenge perceptions.
RECOGNITION
Awards:
2023 Photolucida Critical Mass Finalist
Other:
Diana Nicholette Jeon:American Grotesque, Talking Pictures, February 5, 2025
The Griffin Musuem’s Member in Focus feature (Various Selections; May 2024)
FRAMES magazine (volume 12, July 2023)
Photographers and Collage (curated by Ann Mitchell and Ammandine Nabarra), Thinking About Photography, April 2023