In Greek mythology, the proud Narcissus is so absorbed by his reflection that he refuses to leave it until death. The irony of the narcissist lies in their ultimate sacrifice of self — the sacrifice of their potential to grow in favor for a static, absorptive pleasure. Rather than looking at her reflection against the water, my Narcissa gazes at her portrait until she is paralyzed; transformed into a statue and an eventual ‘art-object’ to be observed. An additional layer of inspiration for this doll was The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde in which the main character Dorian, a libertine narcissist, sacrifices their soul (its corruption depicted in a painting) for everlasting beauty and hedonism. Narcissa is surrounded by mirrors and narcissus flowers. The dolls’ resemblance is heavily based on the transgender public figure Narcissa Wright, whose favorite color is also lavender purple.
