Open Up
Acrylic and paper on canvas
30"H X 24"W X .75"D
“Open Up" is a self-portrait in acrylic and paper on canvas that navigates the tension between presentation and authenticity. At first glance, the image follows the conventions of a traditional head-and-shoulders portrait—calm, composed, smiling. But the illusion begins to unravel on closer inspection: the smile is stiff, the colors are just a bit off, and the clothing feels exaggerated and cartoonish, like a costume for the role we play in public.
A tear across the eyes—a rupture in the facade—disrupts the image. This split in the "canvas" acts as both a wound and a revelation, reminiscent of tearing away a mask or blindfold. Through this opening, the hyper-realistic eyes and skin are exposed, rendered with greater care and truth. The inner layer reveals not just visual realism, but emotional and psychological honesty: a raw space where words emerge—personality traits that speak to who I am beyond the surface.
With "Open Up”, I tempt the viewer to reflect on the concept of "see and be seen". What are we showing, and what are we hiding? How much of our identity is curated to be palatable, and how much of it remains obscured, even from ourselves? This piece is a call for introspection and empathy—for looking deeper and questioning what lies beneath the surface of our public selves.
