If I Were a Cancer reflects on the desire for emotional safety and the courage it takes to open oneself to others.
At the center of the composition stands a complete figure, connected at the back of the head to a smaller self. Partially hidden within a nautilus shell, the smaller figure suggests a retreat into protection and familiarity. Its body takes the form of a locked door, symbolizing the boundaries we build around our inner world. Within the figure’s mind, a crab cautiously peeks outward, embodying both curiosity and hesitation in the face of connection.
A clear ocean flows through the figure from head to body, linking memory, emotion, and selfhood. Set against pink linen and pink-yellow nebulae touched with soft violet hues, the work unfolds within a dreamlike landscape of vulnerability and reflection. Rather than presenting vulnerability as weakness, the work explores the delicate balance between protecting oneself and allowing others to come closer. It invites viewers to reflect on what helps them feel safe enough to open the doors they keep closed.
