As humans, we often feel a disconnect between seeing an image and the physical manifestation of what that image depicts. There is no way to experience the scaliness of a fish's skin or feel the wind on a mountaintop just from viewing them in images. I aimed to communicate that disconnection through the perspective of an animal that has never experienced it.

Animals don't encounter "images" as humans do; they live their entire lives surrounded by physical environments where all experiences are tangible and real. But what happens when an animal sees itself in a mirror?

In this project, I created a peaceful, sunlit scene on a windowsill. On the windowsill sits an open encyclopedia surrounded by various lab equipment and classroom items—pens, beakers, lined paper, textbooks, etc.—creating an atmosphere that feels slightly abandoned, almost as if the kids have gone out to recess. This idea is reinforced by the protagonist of the piece, a small domestic snake that has escaped from its terrarium and is roaming the empty classroom. The snake slithers across an open page of the encyclopedia, coincidentally featuring the article about its species.

The emotional impact of this piece is akin to that of a child watching his father shave. The sense of curious wonderment the snake might feel upon seeing another of its kind photographed in nature gives our protagonist an aspiration, as viewers reflect on its presumed thoughts: "Maybe that could be me someday."

This piece contains a slight element of absurd comedy, as the coincidence of the snake sitting atop its own page is both apparent and humorous. Most importantly, the snake's curiosity endears it to the viewer, adding an element of personification that characterizes it almost as a human child or a pet, evoking a sense of care and responsibility. This emotional connection is the ultimate goal I strive for in this piece.