Unraveling
Zoe L.
Canvas, Acrylic
-
I wanted this self portrait to convey the feeling of being trapped inside my head, unable to control my own thoughts. The dramatic, warm lighting is meant to look like a spotlight being cast on my face, which is tilted downwards in response, as if uncomfortable with the all attention. My gaze is drifting off into the distance, making it seem like I’m not entirely present. The aloof expression on my face suggests that I’m unaware of the fact that I am slowly unraveling, being sliced open by an invisible hand, though in reality I’m just too distracted to even notice. This unraveling is a visible symbol of my own constant feelings of anxiety and stress, and the way that they sometimes make me feel like I’m internally falling apart, even if it doesn’t seem that way from the outside.
-
To me, creativity is about being able to express my own unique perspective of the world. It is an outlet for my thoughts and feelings that can sometimes be hard to communicate with words.