Socia & Socius

With his collection Socia & Socius, Joshua explores societal flaws in the digital age. The initial spark for the concept came to him one morning on the Vienna subway: regardless of age or background, nearly everyone was absorbed in their smartphone—heads down, surroundings fading into the background.

​

Using acrylic paint and minimalist forms, the collection centers around two figures, Socia and Socius, derived from the Latin term for participants in society. Their hunched posture and exaggerated thumbs symbolically represent smartphone addiction and digital dependency. The vivid acrylic colors of the surrounding environment deliberately contrast with the figures, highlighting the growing lack of awareness toward the physical world.

​

Although graphic design and painting were not Joshua’s original fields of study, his interest in digital design and art emerged during the COVID-19 lockdown. As a self-taught artist, he began his creative journey through various corporate design projects and gradually discovered a deep passion for physical art and working on canvas.