"Whole Behind the Glass"

"Whole Behind the Glass" 21.5in x 15in, colored pencil on paper, 2026

This piece centers on a reflection that does not match reality. In the real world, the objects appear whole, unused, and valuable, untouched by time or damage. Their surfaces are clean, intact, and complete. Yet in the reflection, those same objects are broken, worn down, and visibly used, as if they have already lived through years of strain.

This contrast represents the disconnect between external appearance and internal experience. On the outside, a person may seem fine, put together, and even thriving. Nothing appears damaged or out of place. But internally, reflected in the altered versions of these objects, there is exhaustion, wear, and a sense of being used up.

The reflection becomes a metaphor for mental health, showing how struggles are often invisible to others. The damage exists, but only in a space that is not immediately seen or acknowledged. The objects in the reflection carry the weight of overuse and neglect, suggesting emotional fatigue and the quiet impact of ongoing stress.

The piece explores how value does not disappear even when something feels broken. In both the real objects and their reflections, there is still worth. The tension between the two versions highlights how people can feel depleted inside while still being seen as whole from the outside.

Overall, the work captures the hidden nature of mental health struggles, emphasizing the difference between how things appear and how they are actually experienced beneath the surface.