This piece is a self-portrait exploring my perception of myself. Reflecting on my negative self-talk and observing my appearance, I noticed I can never see myself clearly or objectively.

I grew up in a strict household where my parents pointed out my negative traits in a straightforward way. Despite their good intentions, I took their words to heart and used them to label my character. For years, I was my biggest critic, constantly denying my achievements, strengths, and potential. This negative self-talk undermined my confidence and ability to pursue what I truly want: to become an artist who hones her visual language through colors and composition to communicate human experiences.

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I used print media (magazines, recipe books, tabloids, newspapers) to capture another origin of negative self-talk. The content on the paper cutouts discusses the mental health crisis among youths across Canada as well as negative phrases that have been taken out of context.