I Am Not Ok

It's a mixed media piece on a 20cm by 20cm canvas. The piece showcases a face mask painted white with the letters MCO stitched above. It's intended to be a somber reminder of the year that was; intentionally monotonous with some anxiety expressed through the crumpled mask form. When UV light is applied however, the piece takes on a dire tone with a hidden message now revealed - 'I am not ok'. It's symbolic to how everyone sheltered in their cocoons due to the MCO, with social distancing and mask use creating barriers of communication. Everyone tries to be fine but the reality is that most are not, but never finding the right moment or the right people to just share 'I am not ok'. At least that was how the experience of the pandemic and MCO was for me. Piece is made with an actual face mask, acrylic paint, fluorescence powder, and resin letters that are made myself and handstitched.