Rooted in Self - Framed

Rooted in Self is a three-part figurative series exploring masculine identity through a queer perspective. Each work presents the same figure at a different moment of transformation, tracing a movement from self-awareness to exposure and finally to self-possession.

The body emerges from textured, earth-toned surfaces, grounded by organic lines that resemble roots, nerves, or memory. These recurring forms suggest that identity is never separate from experience but shaped by history, desire, and personal becoming.

Across the series, the relationship between subject and viewer shifts. The figure moves from being observed, to emotionally open, to ultimately turning away, reclaiming autonomy from the gaze. Rather than presenting masculinity as fixed strength, the works approach it as something evolving: vulnerable, embodied, and self-defined.

The collection invites viewers to consider how visibility, intimacy, and self-recognition shape the experience of identity.