Not Like Clockwork

Anna Sorokina

New York (United States), 2021, mixed media (graphite, ink, watercolor wash and digital color).

"Not Like Clockwork is an image of a human existing in what seems to be an endless galaxy, surrounded by falling papers and many broken, separated mechanisms. The image illustrates an interaction most face daily - of a human with their job. The title is a reference to the phrase Like Clockwork, which means to be very smooth/em>, to work with perfect regularity. To be human is quite the opposite—it is to be imperfect, to get tired, to sometimes break, and to later fix oneself."

"Interaction of a human with their job and work identity. This theme speaks to me personally—as a creative, I have a hard time separating myself from my craft. When it comes to interacting with one's job, passion and burnout go hand in hand. We are not machines, but rather emotional beings."