As repeated exposure to and infection with COVID-19 became more socially acceptable, those of us who continued taking precautions and wearing masks found ourselves increasingly shunned by family and friends. Discussing COVID-19 openly is now often met with silence, anger, or dismissal. This mask symbolizes the experience of being silenced and overlooked by a society that has chosen complacency over caution.
This piece features a metal lock covering my mouth, holding in all that I want to say but can’t. A triangular screen of tulle sits at eye level to emphasize the blur of what it feels like to watch the world turn without being a part of it.
Back to Part 4: Listless Overgrowth