Behind the Mask (original hand-drawn sketch by Amy)

Amy said:

"Who are you? Who am I? Why are humans so hypocritical? Why do I always wear a mask?"

These are the questions I find myself grappling with as I work through the images in this piece. On the left, I’ve captured two small moments that I know all too well—first, the act of putting in my colored contact lenses. It’s a simple thing, but in that moment, I’m already altering my appearance. Then, I move on to applying blush, another small act, but one that layers on the expectation of how I’m supposed to look. These are things I do every day, things I do without thinking, but there’s a deep discomfort in knowing that these changes are all for the world outside, not for me.

The larger image on the right shows me fully made up, presenting the version of myself that others see—a “perfect” version, a mask that hides the real me. I find myself wondering, Why do I feel the need to put on this mask every day? Why do I hide behind these layers of makeup, these curated images of who I am supposed to be?

I ask myself, Who am I really beneath all of this? The act of wearing a mask, both literally and figuratively, feels like a constant battle. Sometimes, I feel like I’ve lost touch with who I truly am underneath it all. These small daily rituals of self-alteration seem harmless on the surface, but they’re part of a bigger pattern—the struggle to meet external expectations and hide the vulnerabilities and insecurities I carry inside.

Through this piece, I want to open up a conversation about these questions—questions of self-identity, societal pressure, and the masks we wear to protect ourselves. I want others to see what’s behind my mask and perhaps to reflect on what’s behind theirs as well.

About the Artist:

This work is personal—it’s a reflection of the thoughts, emotions, and struggles I face as I navigate the world of self-image. Through these images and my words, I’m trying to understand why I feel the need to hide certain parts of myself. I want to encourage others to question their own masks and consider whether they are being true to themselves or living for the expectations of others. In the end, my goal is to be more authentic, but it’s not always easy when the world expects us to be something else. Through my art, I’m finding my way back to myself, one layer at a time.