Artist Statement
Words that are spoken repeatedly never seem to go away. This image reflects the pressure on us to be perfect and shows people altering what doesn’t need to be changed, all for the recognition and validation of others. The hands are all the same, and they are molding us into an ideal picture. The camera lens is focused on us, not letting us breathe, not letting us rest for a minute. The pressure on us is unbearable. Hopefully, it will dissipate over time. Different isn’t ugly and accepting it should be a necessity. Being able to work on a piece that encourages individuality and paints a picture of all the things that I went through is freeing. People used to demand that I “do this, not that.” I don’t want to play it safe. I want to be me, do it my way, fail, get back on my feet, and learn from my mistakes.