ЛOTUS

At the heart of this installation lies a quiet dialogue between beauty and fear. The flower you see, a lotus, symbolizes purity and selfhood — delicate, yet strong. But this lotus does not bloom freely. It is surrounded, guarded, and hidden by spider lilies, flowers often linked to death and loss in Japanese culture.

This piece seeks to embody the quiet ache of shyness, the invisible armor worn by those who struggle with depression. A state where the soul recoils inward, building walls so high and thick that even light – or hope - struggles to enter. To the outside world, this often appears as numbness, as masks — carefully constructed faces worn to blend in, to survive. But beneath these layers, the true self remains unseen, untouched. 

While pure, what is beauty when it is not expressed?

The lotus, like the human heart, will only reveal itself when approached with patience and care. It will not open on command, nor for the curious glance of a stranger. Only through presence, softness, and time will its hidden beauty slowly unfold.