Remission

Remission is a mixed‑media self‑portrait reflecting my experience with depression and the slow, uneven process of healing. I combine acrylic, watercolor, colored pencils, metallic paints, and textured materials to create a surface that mirrors emotional complexity that is fragile, and constantly shifting.
At the center is my calm, almost expressionless face, meant to act as a mirror so viewers can project their own emotional state onto it. The symbolic elements come directly from my personal history: red lilies evoke vulnerability and the struggle for self‑acceptance; dark butterflies represent the fragile hope that accompanies transformation; and cosmic imagery reflects the sense of connection I find both in my family and in the universe.
Light emerging from the body suggests strength returning after a long period of darkness, while fine red lines trace continuity and survival. The work captures a moment suspended between suffering and healing, filled with restrained hope.