Cabinet by Avinda Tishan

An original painting by Avinda Tishan

Avinda Tishan’s Cabinet is a scathing critique of political theater, laid bare in an almost courtroom-like setting. The vibrant red backdrop returns, now seething with the energy of power plays and manipulation. Here, we witness a group of men in white-collar shirts—politicians, presumably—gathered in a scene that feels both chaotic and orchestrated. At the center, a man handles a rope tied to a snarling dog, its mouth agape, a clear symbol of violence or control, perhaps even fear itself. The dog becomes a pawn, a proxy for the animalistic urges of control that underpin this entire spectacle.

The figures, though distinct, are connected by thin, almost invisible red strings—a nod to the unseen forces of manipulation, puppet strings pulling their every move. The central figure, directing this grotesque choreography, appears to hold the attention of the others, their faces twisted in various expressions of indifference, complicity, or quiet outrage. 

Seated at the far end, in a position of authority, a judge-like figure watches over this disturbing performance, seemingly indifferent to the absurdity of the scene. His posture, casual and unbothered, reinforces the grim reality: those meant to uphold justice are often complicit in the very structures that breed corruption and disorder.

In Cabinet, Tishan delivers a potent visual metaphor for the collusion of power and violence in governance, where decisions are made not through justice, but through control and coercion. The dog, leashed and on display, is an unsettling reminder of how easily systems of power turn feral, and those in control remain blind to the havoc they wreak. Once again, Tishan’s bold, chaotic brushwork confronts us with the uncomfortable truth that democracy can often feel like a puppet show, where those pulling the strings are all too happy to let the system devour itself.