“i am the blind men/ i am the elephant” marks my most personal artistic undertaking to date, delving into aspects of my lived experience often concealed even from my closest confidantes. This series of watercolor paintings revisits the well-known parable of the blind men and the elephant. Blind men who have never encountered an elephant try to learn what it is by feeling only one part of the animal’s body. The elephant is then imagined as a snake. A wall. A rope. A fan. Even a weapon. Each perspective is justified, yet the picture is incorrect.

Applying this parable to my own identity – as a mother, artist, nerd, wife, feminist, and woman navigating contemporary society – I go on an introspective journey. Through the fluid and surprising nature of watercolor, I am creating a series of works that blend humor, self-scrutiny, and a touch of the surreal.

Furthermore, this project confronts my own complicity in perception, recognizing the biases and blind spots that inevitably shape my understanding of the world and others. 

By combining abstract forms, symbolic imagery drawn from personal experience and popular culture, and figurative representations, I aim to encourage viewers to pause and examine their own perceptions. Are they, at times, the “elephant,” the subject of others’ limited grasp? Or are they the “blind men,” struggling to comprehend the reality of those around them?

Ultimately, “i am the blind men/ i am the elephant” hopes to foster an appreciation for the complexities of the modern human experience. This body of work is a continuous unfolding,  mirroring my own gradual process of self-disclosure.