{"title":"Micca Young","description":"\u003cp\u003eMicca Young  is a self-taught surrealist oil painter and digital illustrator born in Perth and based in Melbourne, Australia\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"micca-young-i-will-open-up","title":"Micca Young | I Will Open Up","description":"\u003cp\u003eI Will Open Up\u003cbr\u003e16 x 16 inches\u003cbr\u003eOil on Wood Panel\u003cbr\u003e$6200 USD\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArtist statement:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"This piece explores embracing the power of vulnerability and the profound impact it can have\u003cbr\u003enot only on our relationships, but also on our ability to reach and connect with others in a\u003cbr\u003emeaningful way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt came about during a period in my life when I was learning to find comfort in being vulnerable\u003cbr\u003ewith myself and those around me. The use of the mandarin was my fun way of representing\u003cbr\u003ebeing raw and organic in my emotions and peeling my layers back to expose the real me. I used\u003cbr\u003eto feel incredibly exposed sharing what was really going on inside, afraid that it might come\u003cbr\u003eacross as cringe or make me appear weak. However, I slowly began to realise that allowing\u003cbr\u003emyself to be vulnerable gave others the opportunity to understand me on a deeper level. In turn,\u003cbr\u003eit also helped others feel seen and encouraged them to open up to me, allowing me to better\u003cbr\u003eunderstand them, too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough this, I came to understand that while vulnerability may expose our weaknesses, it is\u003cbr\u003eultimately one of our greatest strengths. There is something incredibly powerful about allowing\u003cbr\u003eourselves to be seen for who we truly are, without fear or pretence. I believe it is this openness\u003cbr\u003ethat allows us to form genuine, meaningful connections with one another, and is ultimately the backbone of any relationship.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mortal Machine Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46706876022869,"sku":null,"price":6200.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0071\/4833\/9315\/files\/IMG_6560.jpg?v=1794429644"},{"product_id":"micca-young","title":"Micca Young | Untitled","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eUntitled\u003cbr\u003e13.5 x 16 inches\u003cbr\u003eOil on Wood Panel\u003cbr\u003e$3900 USD\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe piece remains untitled because its meaning has shifted for me over time, holding two\u003cbr\u003edifferent interpretations from two different periods of my life.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe imagery of a white snake adorned with a pink bow, consuming its own tail, first came to me\u003cbr\u003ein 2024 while I was creating Good Girl?¿ and questioning what it truly means to be “good.” At the time, I interpreted the image almost as a spiritual warning: there is no real freedom in acting\u003cbr\u003ein sin, or with harmful, ill intention, because eventually, in one form or another, our wrong doings\u003cbr\u003ecome back to bite us. The truth has a way of coming to light, and the negative choices that\u003cbr\u003eappear easiest or most enticing in the moment often leave us with consequences we must carry\u003cbr\u003elater. We can rationalise our behaviour, convince ourselves that it is justified, or disguise\u003cbr\u003esomething destructive as liberation, while unknowingly participating in our own self-sabotage.\u003cbr\u003eThe snake eating its own tail is also an ancient symbol, Ouroboros, and is historically known to\u003cbr\u003erepresent rebirth, life and death, self creation and unity of life. When I finally brought this piece\u003cbr\u003eto life it was at perfect timing when I was genuinely at a stage of feeling all shedding new layers\u003cbr\u003eand evolving into a new version of myself. I completed it in December 2025, which was also a great way to finish off the year of the snake.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mortal Machine Gallery","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46706887655509,"sku":null,"price":3900.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0071\/4833\/9315\/files\/IMG_6565.jpg?v=1794430041"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0071\/4833\/9315\/collections\/IMG_6557.jpg?v=1794428842","url":"https:\/\/mortalmachinenola.com\/collections\/micca-young.oembed","provider":"Mortal Machine Gallery","version":"1.0","type":"link"}