“The Faces of Me” is an exploration of selfhood—of the multitudes we carry within us—through a meticulous process of creation. Each face began as a mold of my own, formed in plaster, then sculpted in terracotta clay.
The material, raw and earthly, mirrors the fragility and strength of the human experience, while the process—shaping, carving, firing—reflects transformation through fire, much like life itself. These faces embody contrasting states of being: joy, defiance, grief, submission, and rebirth.
They are fragments of me, but they are also universal. In creating them, I confronted each version of myself: the lover, the warrior, the wanderer, the wounded. This project speaks to the constant dialogue between the selves we present, the ones we hide, and the truths we quietly carry.
Explore "The Faces of Me" in an interactive 3D model—rotate, zoom, and engage with every detail of the work to uncover the layers of identity and emotion within each face.
In shadows of earth, I pulled the clay,
Shaped by hands that gods once obeyed.
They made us fragile—of dust, of flame,
But in this kiln, I’ve forged my name.
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A veiled face whispers, “Stay unseen,”
Her silence sharp, her gaze serene.
But power flickers where shadows creep,
A promise they buried too deep to keep.
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A skeleton grins through a mask of lies,
Flesh ripped apart where the quiet dies.
Her tongue is bound, her laughter caged,
A hymn of shame, a woman enraged.
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Each face a prayer, each line a scream,
The shattered fragments of my dream.
A girl with braids, naive and bright,
Crushed by shadows, reborn in light.
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One face mourns with hollowed eyes,
Her tears baked dry as the fires rise.
Another laughs with her tongue set free,
Mocking the silence forced on me.
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They said I was fragile, ready to fall,
A body of clay, breakable, small.
But they didn’t know the fire I’ve fed,
The burning whispers of the words unsaid.
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Each crack, each scar, a map of pain,
Each line a story I dared not name.
Do you see it now, in the fire’s breath?
Creation isn’t birth—it’s defying death.
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From the kiln, I rise, charred but alive,
A woman of many, a soul to survive.
Each face a reflection, each self a shrine,
To the god who failed, and the power that’s mine.
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This is my offering, my fractured plea—
The dark, the broken, The Faces of Me.
Fabrication and Materials
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Each tile is crafted from terracotta clay, symbolizing the earthiness and resilience of womanhood. To begin, molds of my face were created using a skin-safe molding agent. The clay was then pressed into these moulds, dried, and sculpted to reflect various expressions, moods, and identities. The tiles were baked at 1,040°C (cone 6), ensuring durability while retaining intricate details. Finally, the tiles were mounted within a custom-made metal frame, showcasing them as a cohesive narrative.
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Process
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The making of The Faces of Me spanned over 2 months, encompassing moulding, sculpting, and firing.
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Molding: A careful process using alginate for capturing facial contours without damaging the skin.
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Sculpting: The raw clay tiles were shaped by hand, each detail carved to evoke specific emotional tones. One tile, for instance, depicts a skeleton face, symbolizing mortality and the stripping away of societal masks.
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Assembly: After firing, the tiles were fitted into a structured metal frame with precise lighting to accentuate their details.
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Ethos and Meaning
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This project reflects the complex interplay of identity and societal expectations. The veiled tile, for instance, is a nod to traditional norms, while the playful and sexual tiles challenge the same constructs. The skeleton face acknowledges vulnerability, reminding viewers of the rawness beneath curated personas. The Faces of Me is not just an art piece but a dialogue—inviting viewers to confront their biases and reflect on the fluidity of identity.
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Each Face has a name, a story and a poem.
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A look into the process:
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This behind-the-scenes video captures the intricate process of creating "The Faces of Me": beginning with plaster molds of my own face, followed by detailed sculpting in terracotta clay, the delicate firing process, and the assembly of the final pieces. Along the way, broken tiles were carefully repaired, each crack becoming part of the story.