Outside the Box

49 x 36 x 22 inches / Materials: Charcoal, wire

Inspired by David Oliveira’s wire sculptures, this installation combines a charcoal painting of hollow, malnourished figures—eyes closed or lacking pupils, expressing a sense of emptiness—with a wire sculpture of a person pushing out from the canvas. The wire figure embodies a struggle against the stifling dullness surrounding it, breaking from a world that drains individuality and joy. Through the contrast between the rigid, soulless figures and the dynamic movement of the wire sculpture, “Outside the Box” represents the need to escape emotional numbness, embracing creativity and the vibrancy of a more liberated self. With this piece, I wanted to convey the power of imagination, the urge to reject passivity, and the courage required to seek a life outside the lines. Through the juxtaposition of shadowed stillness and a reaching wire figure, “Outside the Box” symbolizes my struggles with personal expression and the pursuit of vibrancy in an otherwise colorless world.