Joe Smith’s picture is layered in shadows and made me see the picture as a mystery. They suggest more than what is visible — like echoes, voices from the past moments or hidden presences. The canvas-like texture over the whole image gives the feeling of a painting. This kind of visual storytelling is emotionally so powerful.

I wanted to merge the mysterious beauty of classical paintings with a contemporary, transient element — the wrapping paper we use when sending things to protect them. In my work, the sheets of this paper resemble swaying tree branches, delicate and fleeting. They become a symbol, bridging the past and the present — a quiet conversation between eras. To deepen this dialogue, I chose to include the human figure. The presence of a person enriches the scene emotionally, becoming a living connection between history and the now — a witness, a carrier of memory, and a part of the contemporary story.