Boy in the bubble

"Boy in the bubble" showcases a vibrant dreamlike world with soft strokes of pastels and details that explores the world it aims to build and supports the story its telling. The painting portrays a boy in a bubble filled with plushies that represent human needs such as food, companionship, entertainment and love; he is content with his life inside the bubble. Outside in a far distance a giant structure can be seen engulfed in flames. Within the bubble, the boy lives protected and oblivious to the outside world. The contrast between the serenity of the state within the bubble and outside of it is a commentary on privilege and the disparity people's lives. The flowers throughout the painting further expand the world while carrying symbolic meaning of their own. The purple columbines surrounding the boy symbolize ignorance and naivety, a meaning rooted in the Victorian era, where the flower's resemblance to a jester’s hat led to its association with foolishness and innocence. Together, these elements reinforce the painting’s central theme, that comfort and security can create a barrier between individuals and the struggles of the wider world, allowing them to remain unaware of realities that exist beyond their immediate experience.

Alex Phyo

Hi, I'm Alex Phyo (born 2007), an up and coming visual artist based in Yangon. I'm a self-trained multidisciplinary artist, honing my craft since childhood. I started pursuing my creative aspirations in 2025 since then I've participated in and organised group exhibitions and events. My work mainly centers around my identity, feelings and experiences, as a person who's just entering adulthood, my art reflects that, with emotionally layered and complex concepts paired with traces of a whimsical childlike realm. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Claude Monet, Salvador Dali and Hayao Miyazaki, my art exists in a surreal vibrant dreamscape.

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