In Absence, Duality Remains

Resin, Jade White Marble

20.5 x 20.5 x 12.5 cm

2024 

At the age of 11, my father’s presence receded into the background of a small, partitioned room where my mother and I began a new chapter. His final gesture of care was to replace the lock—a silver knob, cold yet symmetrical, laden with unspoken emotions. The lock became both a bridge and a barrier, embodying the duality of our relationship: a bond that was both secure and distant, present and absent.

Through this piece, I reflect on the ways we inherit traits and mannerisms from those who shape us, even in their absence. Despite the fleeting time my father and I spent together, I now see echoes of him in my actions and ways of expressing care. Using a door lock as the central symbol, with its mirrored keyholes connecting each side, I explore the invisible yet unshakable ties between us. This work captures the fragile balance of longing, mimicry, and acceptance, presenting the lock as a marker of intimacy, memory, and quiet transformation.