Safe in the Closet

This mixed media artwork explores the paradox of finding comfort and safety in enclosed, hidden space. Centered around a childlike figure curled up inside a closet, the piece is a visual diary of anxiety and self protection, filled with symbolic objects like lucky charms, clovers, and fortune cookies. 

Despite the chaotic textures and ominous elements surrounding the closet like eyeballs, cobwebs, and the word “ANXIETY”, the interior feels personal, almost sacred. The clothing acts like a protective shield, draping the figure in layers of familiarity and warmth. Objects traditionally associated with luck and childhood offer psychological shelter, suggesting that even fear filled spaces can become refugees. 

The handwritten note with an “F” and phrases like “I AM NERVOUS” and “UNCOMFORTABLE” reflect the internal world the figure is escaping from. Ultimately, the work reclaims the idea of the closer, not as a space of fear or hiding, but as a quiet sanctuary where one can breathe, regroup, and feel at home.

Suhjin Chey is a sophomore at Seoul Scholars International with a strong interest in how emotions—particularly fear and anxiety—can be expressed through visual language. For her, art is a quiet and reflective process that helps her observe and translate subtle shifts in her inner world into imagery. Her desire to make the invisible visible extends naturally into related fields such as fashion and architecture. Suhjin is drawn to exploring how form, space, and design can carry emotional weight, and she hopes to continue developing her unique perspective through interdisciplinary artistic expression.