This painting is part of my series The Fluidity of Us. It is a self-portrait reflecting feelings of disconnection and the gradual rediscovery of the self after repeated losses caused by geographical distance.
The series emerges from many years of international relocation and reflects on the gain and loss of relationships, as well as how identity shifts across different contexts. The title refers to moments of silence in long-distance communication — the familiar question, “Are you still there?” — and the uncertainty that follows.
The work is closely connected to my move from the United States back to Europe in 2020, a period marked not only by personal transition but by global upheaval. The pandemic intensified experiences of separation, disconnection, and emotional distance, even from those once close.
The shadow cast across the figure and the water suggests the presence of others — friends or family — who are still felt but no longer physically present. The partially submerged, floating figure becomes a metaphor for losing familiar parts of oneself across cultures, languages, and social environments: being known in one place, and almost invisible in another.