This collage explores the quiet tension of autistic masking, especially in women, where the face shown to the world hides the childlike self within. Layered fragments of masks, costumes, and delicate imagery evoke the performance of fitting in, while beneath them rests a softer, unguarded presence.

The piece reflects both the fragility and resilience of living behind a disguise: painted smiles, practised gestures, and the tender truth of a self that still feels like a child inside. It invites viewers to look past the mask and glimpse the hidden playground of authenticity waiting beneath.