This artwork analyses power, exploitation, and the dehumanization hidden within systems we see as normal. The suited figure, calm and smiling, holds a pepper grinder, a symbol of control, over a cauldron filled with desperate hands and faces. This image shows how the powerful thrive by exploiting the struggles of the powerless, disguising oppression as progress. The piece feels personal, as it questions how often we ignore or even contribute to systems that commodify humanity, from labor to migration. It asks hard questions. How often have I been complicit? How often does society turn away from those suffering to uphold privilege? This painting is more than a critique, it compels viewers to rethink, challenge, and stop building success on the suffering of others.

Materials Used: Ply Wood, Sand Paper, Glue, Acrylic Paints on Canvas
Size: 20 x 18 x 18 Inches
Year: 2023
Artist: Devyani Rathore