Introducing
Daff
"...His art is vibrant, whimsical, and thought-provoking. With bold colors and a playful, surreal aesthetic, Daff's work takes us on a journey to discover..."
"...His art is vibrant, whimsical, and thought-provoking. With bold colors and a playful, surreal aesthetic, Daff's work takes us on a journey to discover parts of..."
Not being Perfect Is My Greatest Fear
I've always felt a thrill when doctors think they've cured me. I lie and pretend, letting them believe they’ve succeeded. It is my addiction, serving others, to be of use. My entire life revolves around it. As long as I am being used, I matter.
Existing as a tool for others, without a sense of who I am, has given me a wide range of experiences. Saying yes, going wherever people want me, has led to an amazing life story. It's the path I’ve taken, but not the life I’ve chosen.
As long as I kept moving, I didn't have to confront the void inside me. I craved exploitation, believing that the more I was used for others' desires, the more I was worth. I bought into my own lie, convinced that I was perfect, invincible. My life was like a beautifully wrapped present with nothing inside, an illusion I never dared to shatter. It seemed lovely, until the inevitable crash came at 1,000 mph.
What life do you want to live?
How Did I eND UP HERE?
It's a cage I've built around myself, one that I thought would protect me but has only isolated me further. No matter how hard I try, who I am will never fit into society. So instead, I fight hard to be seen as invincible, denying myself the luxury of crying, loving, or feeling. I am a product, a tool for others to use.
I measure my worth by how much value you can get out of me. Because something worthless is not worth living.
It has been 20 years since I first tried to take my life, and the self-hate never left. Twenty years of running away from my own thoughts. The first step to recovery is admitting the truth. And like all addicts, I have been lying, especially to myself.
Do you ever stop and wonder if you're living the life you chose or the life that was chosen for you? I am starting to think about my future and how I want to live my own life, and it’s like seeing everything for the first time. What is my sexuality? What food do I like? What music do I enjoy? Where do I want my life to go? What clothes do I want to wear?
As I make these choices, I struggle to understand the world and our place in it. People follow the same patterns and get the same results. I look around and wonder, is this really what we want to achieve? Why do we stop dreaming? On the streets, no one seems happy. When did we decide to work for joy tomorrow instead of being happy now?
When I do art, it’s not about beauty or technique; it is to help me understand and process the world, aiming to make choices that lead to happiness. I want my art to make us stop making decisions based on instinct or social constructs and instead help me make the right choices for my life. I hope my art will help you in the same way. To help you discover true happiness, beyond the boundaries of natural instincts and societal expectations.
About The Art
"... a 33-year-old artist hailing from Stockholm, currently based in London and traversing the globe for inspiration. After a successful career, Daff finally found his true calling in art. His debut pieces hit the market in March 2024, with his first painting fetching $6,000 USD.
With his work, Daff aims to shake people up and encourage them to make decisions based on personal fulfillment rather than societal expectations..."
- Jyotiee Balani
I stopped being used, not because I wanted to, but because I lacked the energy to continue. Thirty-three years in, the high was over. I no longer had the energy to feed my addiction. I was of no use to anyone and left with my biggest fear: my own mind. Confronted with buried memories and resurfacing feelings, I found a spark—my art. It became my salvation, my way out of the darkness.
While I have buried so many parts of myself, one thing I never managed to suppress was my need to create and express myself. But I could no longer be the canvas, so I started painting, and the art became my savior. To avoid running away again, to resist my addiction, I need to confront my flaws and weaknesses. My paintings help me deal with the chaos in my head. They keep me on track.
I am just beginning this journey. My debut pieces hit the market in March 2024. I have a lot of work left, but I have never been so at peace, so happy. The journey has just begun, and for the first time, it is truly mine.
I stopped being used, not because I wanted to, but because I lacked the energy to continue. Thirty-three years in, the high was over. I no longer had the energy to feed my addiction. I was of no use to anyone and left with my biggest fear: my own mind. Confronted with buried memories and resurfacing feelings, I found a spark—my art. It became my salvation, my way out of the darkness.
While I have buried so many parts of me, there is one thing that I never managed to keep down—my need to create and express myself. But I could no longer be the canvas, so I started painting, and the art became my savior. To avoid running away again, to resist my addiction, I need to confront my flaws and weaknesses. My paintings help me deal with the chaos in my head. They keep me on track.
I am just beginning this journey. My debut pieces hit the market in March 2024. I have a lot of work left, but I have never been so at peace, so happy.