Emergence From the Binding

In 2012, while I was in college, I stood at the edge of what felt like an artistic awakening. I had a vision of a single hand reaching up from a sea of people. At the time, I was experimenting with color and acrylic paint. The idea of rendering an entire crowd quickly became overwhelming, so I chose to blur it into abstract, flesh toned forms rising from the bottom of the canvas. This allowed all of the focus to rest on the hand itself, strained and powerful against a red background and an indistinct mass of bodies. It was the strongest work I created during my time in college.

However, I had chosen to major in science and minor in art, and I soon realized that art is not something that one can “minor” in. It demands full commitment. Unfortunately, I burnt myself out trying to do both. Having decided long ago to pursue science, I pushed myself to follow through with my major. I dropped out of my art classes and resigned art to being a hobby.

In 2025, while reflecting on that period of my life, I rediscovered the image of the hand and was immediately transported back to that moment. It was, and still is, a profoundly powerful image for me. It still feels like it is my own hand reaching out, attempting to assert my strength and escape from the crowd.

Inspired by my younger self, I chose to revisit the concept in a new form. Emergence From the Binding uses different symbolism to express the same emotional truth. A translucent hand, its bones visible, rises from the depths. Vines coil tightly around the forearm and weave between the fingers as the hand stretches outward, straining to break free.

Both the original painting and Emergence From the Binding continue to hold deep meaning for me. Over time, I have become more aware of the bindings in my own life and the ways I have tried to free myself from them. I have distanced myself from toxic relationships and domineering influences, and I have given myself permission to loosen control and fully explore who I am. While it would be easy to place all the blame on others, I have come to realize that I have always had the ability to break free. Until recently, I was allowing fear to hold myself back.