In My Room, Jan Böhmer transforms isolation into a space of confrontation and creation. Painted
during the pandemic lockdown, the work functions as both a self-portrait and a psychological
landscape. The artist depicts himself seated cross-legged, eyes wide open, in a pose that feels at
once defensive and exposed. His gaze is almost hypnotic, caught between self-awareness and
delirium, between presence and introspection.
The work reflects a period when Böhmer was physically confined yet mentally hyperactive.
Through the act of painting, he turns solitude into a laboratory for identity, using color and texture
to navigate his own restlessness. The rough surface, created with layers of mixed materials, gives
the canvas a physical density that contrasts with the emotional immediacy of the subject. The red
jacket and yellow sneakers become personal symbols of defiance and individuality, punctuating
the otherwise confined space with bursts of life.
In My Room, Böhmer questions not only who he is but how identity is shaped when stripped of
social context. The painting becomes a declaration of selfhood born from stillness, a reminder
that even in isolation, the creative act remains a form of resistance and renewal.