Bound

Bound expands my exploration of resilience into large-scale drawing. This six-foot work combines charcoal and white pencil to create a segmented, spiral form inspired by vertebrae—the structures that support us even when they are strained or damaged. The coiled shape suggests both movement and constriction, echoing the tension of a body holding itself together under pressure.

The split composition reflects dual experiences: light and dark, interior and exterior, restriction and release. One side reveals the form through shadow, while the other exposes it through highlights, mirroring the way chronic pain shifts between visible and invisible states. The spiral remains tightly wound, yet it continues to turn, resisting collapse.

Bound examines how limitations shape us. It acknowledges that resilience is often developed within constraints, where adaptation becomes a necessity rather than a choice. Even when compressed or restricted, the form holds, reminding us that strength can persist in tension.