masks & archetypes
The mask we develop through childhood, oftentimes becomes the barrier between us and the wound. It serves as the protection mechanism as it did earlier in childhood, but then it also becomes the barrier to joy as we age. I am drawn to the idea of the mask we build, to protect our vulnerability. It holds a paradox that mirrors Carl Jung’s idea of the Persona: we create these facades early on to feel safe, but eventually, they just get in the way.
I think it's fascinating how we collectively contribute to play a character, participating in a rat race that makes us collecively sick. The contemporary cultural myth of constant self-improvement leaves us and our inveironment, burnt out. We invest our time and energy trying to maintain a character and succumb to the absurdity of our own narrative. Through cutting, erasing, blurring, and peeling back layers, my artistic process becomes a metaphor for unmasking this uncomfortable truth.
Historically, masks were a social and spiritual necessity. Ancient cultures used them as sacred instruments to connect the physical world with the spirit. By wearing a mask in rituals, people could shed their everyday identity to adapt and transform. My mixed-media pieces bring a deep unease to these faces. They exist in a space of friction and transition—the difficult middle ground we have to walk through to actually heal.
