The size of this mask reference the African masks of my childhood. Here, the Hindu god Shiva, Destroyer of Things, rests peacefully, her eyes closed to facilitate the opening of the Third Eye (visible at the back of the mask). She is depicted in her private Garden of Eden, reminiscent of the delicate flowers my mother, a fashion designer, made in her atelier when I was young. Shiva was chosen as it aptly represents the destruction of my old life as a Neuropsychologist to pursue art full time. We arrived in the USA 6 weeks before lockdown. I started painting after a 30-year hiatus to cope with the isolation.

The back of the mask depicts what is hidden from view - or the inner world. Embarking on my artistic journey, I literally had to face myself - my choices, losses, and past decisions, especially giving up art during my 20s to become a Neuropsychologist, a response to my mother's diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease.

The snake is my personal symbol of transformation and here serves as a guide through the inner realm. She is adorned in pearls and jewels, and a fun fact (I did not know when making this mask) is that Shiva wears a serpent around her neck, also adorned with jewels, which represents fearlessness and power.

Both the snake and the butterflies are transformation symbols. The snake sheds it skin; the butterfly emerges from its cocoon. The Third Eye of Shiva represents awakening of intuition and the deep subconscious. The opening of the eye is considered Shiva's source of untamed power. This mask represents my own story of loss, rebirth, and transformation through the healing power of art.