After finishing the first “Hide and Seek,” I still felt there was more to say on the theme of “identity.” The subject is too vast to be expressed in a single painting, so I decided to create a second one.

This time, I wanted to express a more specific idea: our identity is actually made of many layers. Like the clothes we wear, layer upon layer. There are the influences from our family, the shaping from society, and our own unique experiences. All of these things, when added together, make us who we are.

To express this sense of “layers,” I deepened the folds of the Batik cloth in the painting. At the same time, the colors I used are softer than in the previous piece—mainly blues and purples—to create a calmer and more fluid atmosphere.

You’ll notice that the feet in this painting are also different from the last one. The feet in the first piece were firmly planted on the ground, emphasizing “I am here”; whereas this time, the feet feel more relaxed, blending more naturally into their surroundings. This represents our relationship with culture; it doesn’t always have to be about declaring our presence. It can also be about being comfortable within it.