Absence of Transparency is an exploration of concealment, contradiction, and the layers of identity we present to the world. At first glance, the piece’s striking visual—a woman standing with a transparent body, her black heart exposed, and half her face distorted from the other half—invites viewers to question what remains hidden beneath the surface. The figure’s transparency is deceptive; though we can see through her, the stark presence of a black heart suggests that what we hide inside carries the weight of darkness, unresolved emotions, and personal truths.
The woman stands in two worlds: the visible and the concealed. Her transparent form might imply openness, yet the black heart serves as a poignant reminder of what we suppress or protect from exposure. It is not only a metaphor for hidden guilt, pain, or vulnerability, but also for the conflict we carry internally when we present an exterior that does not align with the emotions simmering within. This dissonance is echoed in the split face, where one side remains different from the other—a symbol of the fragmented selves we show in different contexts, sometimes masking our true emotions in order to fit in or protect ourselves from judgment.
Through this work, the question emerges: Is true transparency ever fully possible, or is it an illusion we craft to navigate the complex dynamics of vulnerability, power, and perception?