“Inner Voicemail”

ephemera, mixed media art

by Sherelie Lum

July, 2024

Inner Voicemail embodies the current relationship I have with my inner child. Imagine her waiting on the phone in darkness, trying to connect with me, her adult self, but the calls keep getting disconnected. 

Growing up as an only child, I had to mature quickly, but I also had the freedom to engage in creative play. Art became my way of escaping the chaos at home.

Loneliness became my constant companion. As I got older, I became more focused on external noise, and my loneliness took on a different form. I became caught up in trying to please and help others, neglecting my inner child in the process. The silence between us grew louder.

In my artwork, my inner child is represented as sitting on top of my childhood art, Feeling lost and wounded, surrounded by the art that once meant so much to her.

The telephone symbolizes my adult self, the mask I wear externally as I suppress my emotions internally. I hoped that by working on this project, I would understand why I struggle to connect with my inner child.I struggled to generate a concept for this piece, and I believe it was because I wasn’t fully listening to her. All I needed to do was answer her call.