Sometimes our dreams are not what they seem.
Narrative
Through this narrative, I aimed to reflect on the contrast between idealised desires and the often unexpected truths of real life. In this series, a painting yearns to escape and live her dream beyond her frame. When she finally enters the real world, she’s confronted with the disappointing reality that her dream may not be what she hoped for. Now, alone in a lonely, empty home, she has to learn to come to terms with the sacrifices and losses that came with her pursuit of a new life. Eventually, she comes to terms with her new world and finds peace. This work delves into themes of loneliness, the clash between dreams and reality, and the sacrifices made in the pursuit of fulfilment.
The series received a Silver with Distinction at the Victorian Epson Awards, and one scene was featured by Vogue Italia online.
How it all came to life
I created the character as though she had stepped directly from a canvas. Painterly makeup and visible brushstrokes gave her a textured, almost unfinished quality, while deliberately mismatched clothing reflected her confusion as she tried to find her place in an unfamiliar world.
Each visible element carried part of the story. Flowers and birds represented growth, freedom and the life she imagined beyond the frame. The sparse home became an extension of her isolation, a place she had longed to reach.
