‘This piece is a visual representation of a childhood marked by silence, displacement, and the absence of identity…
– Monique
- Title: Pieces of a Place That Never Was
- Artist: Monique
- Year: 2025
- Medium: Mixed media on foam board
The numbered tiles symbolise the way I was seen—not as a child with a name, a story, or a spirit—but as a number in a system. These numbers speak to the institutional nature of my upbringing, a time when I was moved from home to home, known not for who I was, but for where I fit on a list.
The words scattered across the canvas reflect the chaos of language during that time—words that were thrown around, promises that were broken, and labels that were never mine to carry. They were loud, yet empty. Meaningless, yet unforgettable. As a child, I learned that words could both define and erase.
The black background represents a chapter of darkness—of not knowing where I belonged, who I came from, or who I could become. It is the backdrop of a life lived in transition, without cultural connection, without stability, without home.
And yet, among the silence and the shadows, two words rise: Be Kind.
A simple reminder that kindness can be the one light in someone’s dark room. You never truly know another person’s journey. Behind every face is an unspoken story.
This artwork is not just about what was lost, but what was found. Despite the trauma, the isolation, and the erasure of identity, I rose. I survived. I created.
The experiences that once tried to break me became the very foundations of who I am.
I may not have had a place of belonging as a child—but I have created one through this story, through this art, and through my voice.
This is for the unspoken.
This is for me.’
– Monique