See Music (R. Magritte 1961) 2023 Print

"See Music (R. Magritte 1961) 2023" is a surreal exploration of sound and silence, manifested through ink and acrylic on print, layered on wood-pressed cardboard. Inspired by René Magritte's unique perspective on reality, this piece delves into the artist's deeply personal relationship with music—a relationship shaped by being hard of hearing. The central image features a bird and a halved mannequin with a bowl hat figure, both constructed from sheet music, symbolizing the artist's connection to sound through a preference for written forms over auditory communication. The vibrant pink curtains frame this scene, suggesting a theatrical stage where the performance of understanding and communication takes place. Living in the liminal space between hearing and deafness, the artist's world resonates with effort—the strain of understanding in a world not fully attuned to their needs. The binary classifications of hearing and deafness often overlook the nuanced experience of being hard of hearing, a reality that this artwork poignantly captures. Subtitles, books, and texts become the artist's allies, bridging the gap between their world and the rest of the population. The bird, soaring yet tethered to the sheet music, represents this ongoing journey—a flight through aural landscapes where conversations are marathons and understanding is a constant performance. "See Music (R. Magritte 1961) 2023" invites viewers to contemplate the unseen challenges of navigating a world where sound and silence intermingle, where the written word becomes a lifeline, and where the exhaustion of constant adaptation is a silent, ever-present companion.