Pinned ciggs
| Height | 20 cm |
|---|---|
| Width | 20 cm |
| Length/Depth | 0.3 cm |
Material:
Acrylic on cardboard canvas
Technique:
Acrylic painting
Delivery:
The canvas is mounted onto stiff cardboard for dispatch – including a certificate of authenticity and the artist’s signature on the reverse.
25% of the profits will be donated to Suchthilfe Caritas Berlin.
The work combines painting, text and street art aesthetics to create a dense, visually overloaded surface. At the centre is a cigarette packet – both an iconic consumer object and a symbol. Surrounded by fragmented statements, tags and warning labels, a tension arises between individual self-perception and constant societal bombardment.
Phrases such as ‘What you see isn’t all there is’ or ‘Smoking kills’ overlap with personal, almost resigned notes. The work addresses self-destruction, repression and the normalisation of harmful habits in everyday life. Here, text is not explained, but acts as visual noise – similar to the internal and external voices that influence decisions.
The raw, urban visual language alludes to public spaces, youth culture and the need for expression in an overstimulated world. The work oscillates between criticism and self-observation, leaving open whether it is an indictment, a documentation or a silent admission.
Star
, I’m Charlie Matthew, also known as StAR.
Since 2018, my life has revolved around painting. After completing my degree in graphic design in 2025, I began studying fine art at the HfBK Dresden.
My works are nostalgic, left-leaning pieces that explore my own emotional worlds.
Each piece captures a moment that isn’t clear-cut – a state of in-between. Lines, colours and shapes reflect inner processes that can’t always be put into words. The works invite you to recognise yourself in these transitions, regardless of gender or identity.
Just have a go for yourself and take a look
Other artworks by the artist
