paradise lost (no exit)
oil on wood panel
24h x 18w x 1.5d inches
2026
eri king’s paradise lost (no exit) stages Adam and Eve within an illusionistic space where Classical architecture merges with the disorienting visual language of casinos. Artists of the Renaissance period used trompe l’oeil, realism, and linear perspective to generate awe and spectacle, shaping viewers’ perceptions in ways that reinforced religious authority through carefully staged spatial experiences. Casinos operate through comparable strategies. Their kitschy patterned carpets, controlled lighting, and maze-like layouts are designed to stimulate attention, extend time spent within the space, and subtly influence behavior. By placing these systems in direct dialogue, this painting uses spectacle as a recurring mechanism of power operating across sacred and commercial contexts.