My artworks explore the mind’s relationship with its surroundings as well as its relationship with the self; they deal with responses that are created within, while observing the world outside. As a keen observer and an introvert, I find myself being more creative when I am able to present my thoughts through visuals instead of only words. This series of visuals thus captures the fluctuations of the conscious and subconscious mind, as it responds (positively and negatively) to the experiences that we may or may not have actively registered. 

The series stems from a sketch I made in 2020, which depicted a balloon as a metaphor for the mind, and a sharp object within it, as a metaphor for human ego. The early drawing opened the doors for a range of explorations centred around the theme of the mind, and its fragility and flexibility; here, I looked at the mind, not as an organ, but as a form that constantly moulds itself in response to internal and external factors. 

The metaphor of the balloon allows me to depict the mind as fragile, and thus susceptible to injury. Both, the mind and the balloon, are constantly surrounded by sharp objects that threaten to pierce them in an instant; they must remain vigilant at all times to avoid these hazards. At the same time, like the balloon, the mind is flexible and expansive; it can expand endlessly in response to our constantly multiplying thoughts and feelings. This flexibility is precisely what gives it the strength to endure moments of extreme stress. At any given moment, the mind is navigating both: the external circumstances that we are surrounded by, and the emotional turbulence that lies within us. 

Additionally, The transparency of the water colour medium along with the solidity of graphite gives my concept a concrete form. While water colours allow me to retain the translucent essence of the balloon, graphite helps me add weight to the internal and external objects that the balloon must navigate. These materials thus play a key role in defining the outcomes of my work.