STARVED&SEDATED 1B

STARVED&SEDATED by MARKEL is a raw, unflinching portrayal of humanity's struggle within a broken system—a system that promises limitless potential but delivers only disillusionment and detachment. This piece explores the tension between human empathy and the greed-fueled ambition that strips away our sense of purpose and compassion. Through bold imagery and haunting symbolism, STARVED&SEDATED invites the viewer to confront the profound loss of our shared humanity in the pursuit of hollow success.

Full Quote from MARKEL:

"Born with limitless potential to do good but thrust into a rigged system, controlled by greed and selfishness. Told to be kind yet taught to be unconcerned by the pain of others. Guided to step, pull, and climb over one another to reach the top of the mountain in search of false happiness. Only to realize we sacrificed what little we had left that made us human in order to survive. Blinded by a lack of purpose. Conscience ripped from our skulls and replaced by self-interest disguised as ambition. Distracted by our jesters. Blessed by our own ignorance. Because the human eye is a wonderful device, with little effort, it can fail to see the most glaring injustices."

A Brutal Critique of Society’s Dehumanizing Ambition

In STARVED&SEDATED, MARKEL wields art as a tool for social critique, confronting the viewer with the dissonance between the ideals we are born with and the harsh realities we are conditioned to accept. The stark, almost clinical detachment of the piece reflects the emotional sedation we undergo as we chase false ideals of success, blind to the human cost. The imagery is both provocative and unsettling, a reminder of the humanity we lose as we prioritize self-interest over collective good.

The visceral symbolism—of mountains climbed in vain and skulls emptied of conscience—speaks to the collective journey toward a hollow destination. Like marionettes controlled by unseen hands, we are distracted by our "jesters," entertained into complacency while the core of our humanity starves for purpose and connection. In this work, MARKEL captures the dark irony of ambition: the higher we climb, the further we fall from the people we were meant to be.

STARVED&SEDATED is a powerful social commentary, a piece for those who appreciate art that doesn’t shy away from the darker realities of the human experience. Its stark and thought-provoking imagery makes it a centerpiece for any collection that values work with intellectual and emotional depth. STARVED&SEDATED challenges the viewer to look past the superficial and reflect on the cost of unchecked ambition and the quiet suffering it leaves in its wake. A bold addition to any space, this piece will continue to provoke thought and conversation long after the initial viewing.

Own a piece of STARVED&SEDATED and witness a fragment of humanity's uneasy dance with ambition. Each panel tells part of a haunting story—where empathy is eroded by greed, and the climb toward success leaves conscience behind. This singular work is both a warning and a mirror, reflecting the hollow victories that come from chasing power over purpose.