I'm Happy

This piece explores the dissonance between outward presentation and internal reality. The figure’s tear-streaked face is partially obscured by a smiling mask which is intended to be a reflection of the societal conditioning that equates vulnerability with weakness, particularly for men. The rough and impasto textures disrupt the illusion of polish. Juxtaposing the mask’s artificial serenity with the raw expression beneath questions the ways in which masculinity, identity, and expectation intertwine in order to mute authentic emotion.