Rachel Belfrom 2025

Abstract

Within O.U.R world, there lies a biopunk-inspired character, Nova. A hand painted, 18-inch tall Figurine. Through her, I explore three themes that matter deeply to me which is inclusivity, identity, and mental health, especially for people who often feel unseen or misunderstood. Nova is a humanoid whose body has been altered through forced technology. She lives in a society where her senses and perceptions are controlled, and certain parts of the world are hidden from her. But she begins experiencing glitches, brief moments where she sees more than she is allowed to. Instead of seeing these moments as insight or a gift, Nova believes she is the error. That feeling of people insisting that you are the problem or that you are broken simply for being yourself became the emotional core of my project.