The Isolated

This work uses the metaphor of a maze to explore survival in a fragmented society. From the moment we are born, we navigate countless rules, relationships, and systems. The maze does not simply represent a life path—it symbolizes the complex and entangled structures of society.

The figure in the piece holds the maze, but rather than appearing as its creator, she seems trapped within it. This reflects the idea that although we believe we shape our own lives, we are often limited by invisible frameworks imposed by society.

The surrounding space is dark and empty, and there is no visible exit. This visualizes how life without a sense of community can feel deeply lonely and isolating.

The Isolated does not see survival as something that can be achieved through individual effort alone. Through this work, I wanted to ask why living together matters, and what kinds of relationships we can truly rely on.

Jahin Claire Oh is a junior at Archbishop Mitty High School. She works with digital media, photography, graphic elements, and painting to explore themes of growth, resilience, and adaptation. Her recent work
focuses on the idea of overcoming through learning, drawing on concepts such as antifragility, crisis management, and survival learning. She is interested in how individuals and systems adapt and grow stronger through challenge, using visual metaphots and layered compositions to represent this process. Through her art, she seeks to portray learning not just as knowledge acquisition, but as a powerful, transformative response to adversity.