Unmasked

Unmasked is a hopeful series that envisions a world in which we all feel free to live true to our inner self without curating socially conforming versions of ourselves through the “masks” we present to the world. In Unmasked I bring to life an idealised reality in which queer people are free to shun the masculine ideal, in which neurodivergent people no longer feel compelled to edit their thoughts and behaviours, and in which we are all free to reveal our true self. The series comprises stone lithographs and mokuhanga prints (water-based woodblock prints). Through stone lithography, I have strived to reveal the hidden “flaws” within the limestones I work with to create the final artwork. The unique veins, textures and chips, as well as the scratch marks left behind through the processing of the stone surface mirror the imperfections we see within ourselves and try to hide from world. My mokuhanga prints incorporate natural inks and pigments that bring to mind an ancestral natural origin state that we all share. Unmasked asks us to envisage and create a future in which our self-perceived imperfections and flaws are celebrated as integral parts of our fully revealed natural selves.

Media: stone lithography, mokuhanga

Date: 2024 (ongoing)