Scott Cooks Drug Addiction

Scott Cooks artwork “Drug Addiction” is trying to convey a message of hopelessness and despair a drug addict might experience. By examining the Cooks artwork closely, it portrays the filth and the hell that one can get stuck in and cannot escape. Such that one may lack the need to take care of their appearance (health) and live in a clean safe environment, hence the dirty bathroom, because their main priority is the drugs. The malnourish arms I see as the demons that are creeping through, are desperately seeking relief, but the addict is afraid of what might happen if he does not take the pills. The fact that the drugs are at arm’s reach from the drug addict tells me they are easily available, since they are prescribed, shown by the bottle next to him. Yet the addicts arm is reaching far beyond the room tells me that he is wanting to fight his inner hell to resist. There is allot of emotions in Cooks artwork. Emotions of depression by the expression of the addict and the choice of colors, anxiety shown on the face, pain by gripping of his stomach, disgust by the vomit on the walls and floors, despair for the need to reach for the drugs, and shame by the hiding in the bathroom. Initially my reaction to Cooks artwork was that of shock. …show more content…
Also, a wearisome amount of one’s life to hide it, because it is portrayed in a bathroom. The fact that the door and window are open tells me that the addict in the artwork is sick of trying to hide his addiction and is wanting to seek help. Cooks artwork is screaming for help. I believe Cook accurately depicted drug addiction because of his choice of distorted colors (muted and lack of brightness), and the mess and filth that covers the walls and floors and surrounds the drug addict on the artwork. Cook was successful to make me (the art observer) to react with instant emotions of sadness and darkness. Scott Cook’s artwork accurately depicts drug addiction into every