In 1988 at the age of 35, Sarkin suddenly developed tinnitus, a ringing in the ears caused by a blood vessel in his head pushing against an acoustic nerve, as well as hyperacusis, an over-sensitivity to certain frequency ranges of sound.
Instead of the visual jokes and puns he drew before, his new works were akin to distorted cartoon faces with symbols that sometimes overlapped the features, much like Jean Giraud's Moebius strips.
[5] Sarkin has been featured in Vanity Fair, ABC Medical Mysteries[6] Discovery Channel Documentary “Tormented by Genius,”[7] GQ, ARTnews, and the American Visionary Art Museum.
[10] Tom Cruise's production company optioned his life story for a movie, but the project was put on hold and has yet to be made.
[12] On December 6, 2021, Sarkin signed an exclusive representation deal with the Henry Boxer Gallery,[13] which has specialized in outsider and visionary art since the 1970s.