In December of 2025, my family and I decided to uproot our life in Mexico and set out for new frontiers. We wanted to be somewhere far from America. The goal was adventure. Something completely unique to all of us and as far away from North America as possible. We found that prospect in Albania of all places. At the time, the only thing that I knew about the place was the conflict with Kosovo in the 90's and that American intervention took place in some capacity.
Within a few months of planning we moved our launch date up about 4 months from November to July. To say those months were a blur would be offensive to the blender that has been this experience. It was a fever dream! Yet, we managed to make this strange dream into a reality.
In the months leading up to our voyage we set up some goals to reach financially and a plan to arrive in success. Selling our possessions, tattooing, hopefuly sell some art, etc. Like all great plans, anything and everything went wrong... They call it Murphy's Law ... I call it cruel reality.
Part of that plan was producing a painting and make prints. I worked tirelessly as we sold our belongings, poured over every detail of the journey to Albania, packing, getting our cats overseas... Every detail. During this cyclone of preparation, I'd created this deeply esoteric work illustrating man's search for the meaning of reality. It was a recent favorite of mine.
Though as we set off for Europe, I began to question the work I'd done. While every detail of our plan, in every direction possible, was challenged. I couldn't get it out of my head. What if this wasn't the right painting? I just couldn't shake it.
Then the time arrived. My little family unit set out for Tirana, the capital city of Albania and I went to the United States to sew up some affairs, get some tattooing done, and ship off a painting to the printers. I just couldn't be sure this was "the one". I was in a panic. Every day I spent in uncertainty closed the gap of time I had to act. Appointments were cancelling left and right, tiny details were spoiling our flow, I was wondering if I'd made a huge mistake.
So I did the only thing that can clear my head. I took to creating. Like a madman I let the imagery come to me. One by one I took whatever was really on my mind and I put it down to the canvas. Recent experience like visiting The Voodoo Museum in New Orleans, the general state of surveillance and technology haunting the public, life and liberty... 70 hours of work of a psychological rollercoaster later, I had the work you see here.
This painting represents everything I'm feeling about the world around me today. Theres a duality between the tattoo icons and the border that speak directly to the chaotic maze of life. The kaleidoscope of experience as it were. This work tells a story in and of itself. The bold tattoo imagery weave the fabric of reality as i see it with the world within my brain. I kept thinking about how far the limits of our privacy are being pushed, the idea of setting off to a new home., the rituals we engage in order to tap into the spiritual... All while Albania is in the middle of what people are calling The Flamingo Revolution and we're collectively watching America at war in 4k.
This is a reflection of these things and it's vibrancy speaks to the hope I have going forward. There is power within the people.. My desire for a simpler life and just how complicated that can be. We're at a critical point in civilization and all i want is peace and a simple, fulfilling life. If you made it this far in the description, you probably feel the same.
This print series is the first I have done in over 10 years. the proceeds help one family take a stand for themselves. A path to small victories in a world where the 1% strangle every penny they can from your every day life. This is one way to use your money in a way that doesn't support anything you're against.
Thank you all. Supporting the arts is supporting humanity and its brilliant creative ideas. We could use a little more of that right now, I'd say.
-Ken Cox