Consensual Slavery by Mikarla Teague (Original Painting)

Consensual Slavery delves into the paradox of modern life, where freedom is often an illusion packaged and sold as the ultimate prize. In this piece, skeletal figures dressed in suits represent the corporate machinery, individuals who have willingly become part of a system that dictates their existence, defining their worth by the hours they sacrifice, the routines they follow, and the dreams they trade away. The hollow eyes of these skeletons peer into a world where life is measured by productivity, where we work to live but end up merely surviving.The words woven into this piece ask a vital question: “Why is it that 95% of the population is brainwashed into believing that they want to work 50 years of their life on a job they don’t really want to do, trading all of that for 5-10 years of ‘freedom’?” The skeletal figures reflect the emptiness that comes from this cycle—an existence that gives away autonomy under the guise of freedom, yet leaves us bound by debt, societal expectations, and the fear of stepping outside the mold.The vibrant yet chaotic background symbolizes the noise and distraction that surrounds us, the constant barrage of promises that life will be fulfilling if we follow the path laid out by society. But is it truly freedom if we only get to “live” once we’re old, tired, and spent? This piece invites viewers to challenge the status quo, to reflect on the template we’re given, and to question whether the life we are conditioned to pursue is one we genuinely desire.Through Consensual Slavery, I explore the unsettling truth that, in many ways, we are active participants in our own confinement. Yet, within this realization lies the power to break free, to redefine success, and to reclaim autonomy. This artwork is a call to awaken, to consider what it means to be truly free, and to question the systems that shape our lives.Are we truly living, or merely existing within the confines of a consensual slavery?