Sophia Mahallati

Comfort

Silkscreened on fabric

This piece is about the paradoxical definition of comfort. For me, hoodies are comfort: big, cozy, and warm, I wear them when I need to be in a hug. Some crave a different sort of comfort: the release that comes with cutting. For them, this small, metallic object serves the same purpose as a hoodie does for me. Both are legitimate, both are true, and both need to be recognized.
By printing this image: enlarged with the blade glittering, I hope to create a juxtaposition between two starkly different forms of comfort. I expect many viewers to be confused: to not understand the significance of the sharpener, or its connection to the hoodie, and that's fine. My aim is not to afront people with the realities of self harm, because it is discreet, and hidden, and confusing. But, that does not mean it should be ignored or discounted. Hopefully, this piece pushes viewers to wonder, to consider the connection between the objects, and to reflect on their forms of comfort.