The visible, the curated, the perfected.

These three elements are increasingly celebrated in today’s world, which often compel us to hide more than we reveal. This "trinity" forms the core of the façade we present, whether through social media or in daily interactions, creating an incomplete picture of who we truly are. Behind every smile, every filtered image lies a deeper truth—one we are hesitant to expose.

Lacrima Veritatis is my response to this sad reality. It speaks to the duality many of us live with daily: the contrast between what we aspire to be and what we are weighed down by. It reflects the tension between our desires and societal expectations, between our personal wants and perceived duties. Society today pressures us to pursue perfection—whether it’s moral, physical, or emotional—yet behind the curtain of our best selves, we all carry hidden struggles, untold stories, and unspoken emotions. The cathedral and the roses in the piece symbolize this very tension, representing the eternal struggle between purity and passion, spiritual longings, and earthly desires.

The beautiful blood-red roses, symbols of passion, love, and sacrifice, signify the sacrifices we make to maintain the image the world expects from us. Today, love is often transactional, emotions are commodified, and vulnerability is rarely rewarded. Yet, these roses, beautiful and striking, also have thorns that remind us that behind every public display of beauty or success, there is often pain and sacrifice that remains unseen. I see the coexistence of beauty and pain in the roses as a reflection of how society expects us to hide our suffering, packaging it in ways that are acceptable and appealing to others.

Within the piece lies a hidden heart, representing a deeper truth. This heart, both in life and in Lacrima Veritatis, symbolizes the core of our emotions—the love, fear, hope, and sorrow that make us human. Yet, in today’s society, these feelings are often hidden behind layers of defense, concealed like secrets, as if our deepest emotions are too raw or too real for public consumption. The pressure to maintain appearances can be suffocating, leaving many of us burdened by unexpressed truths. Although I believe our society is structured to celebrate transparency and connection, it often encourages isolation and performance instead.

As someone who values the collective perspective, I wanted this piece to go beyond individual secrecy and address the broader issue of emotional suppression fostered by society. We live in an era where authenticity is both celebrated and penalized. We’re told to “be ourselves”, yet the selves we project are so often shaped by societal expectations. We are asked to reveal, but only what is palatable, never the full depth of our struggles or desires. This is exactly what the hidden heart within the piece embodies: the tension between the beauty we show and the truth we hide.

This piece also serves as a reminder that what lies beneath the surface is far more complex. What we present to the world is but a fraction of who we are, and our untold stories are beautiful but often painful to carry. While today’s societal push is toward perfection, this piece is my way of saying that it is the flaws, the parts we conceal, that make us whole. We no longer need to adhere to societal pressures to create a perfect exterior while burying our truths. It is through acknowledging these untold stories and hidden truths that we can find genuine connection and meaning.

To me, this piece is more than just a Tear of Truth emerging from the inner chambers of my soul; it is an invitation to look beyond the surface, to recognize that beauty and pain, love and sacrifice, aspiration and reality often coexist—just as they do within each of us.

And now, I am curious—what journey has this piece taken you on?

7110 $BONSAI | 3 Editions