Catch & Release 2020

Here, Kayla Mahaffey presents us with a striking image featuring a young boy, rendered with a gravitas reminiscent of classical portraiture, entangled in a fishing net teeming with sea life and cartoon figures. Above him, a thought bubble containing only a fish hook. The fishhook is a symbol as old as humanity itself, representing sustenance, struggle, and our relationship with nature. From ancient Egyptian art to modern-day tattoos, the hook has been a potent symbol. The boy in the net—a clear reference to the act of fishing, but also hinting at the entanglements of modern youth with digital culture. He is caught in a web of both nature and artifice. The juxtaposition of the traditional fishing motif with contemporary cartoon elements creates a powerful tension, reflecting the complex, interwoven nature of modern identity. In this context, the fishhook becomes a poignant reminder of our primal desires and technological advances that define the subconscious experience.