My first self-portrait, Laid Bare, explores my own body and uncertainties. I made the soft sculpture ‘doll’ thinking I could create another copy of myself, exploring the symmetry between us, but Instead I found myself creating a more authentic and sincere version of me, which I’ve never truly seen before. My ‘doll’ makes the work more removed from reality with a humorous touch, but when painting this version of myself, against my real body, it highlights my complex emotions and literally lays me out bare.