Maya Ellena Binte Stephan Da Silva

Jest Maya-dolescence, a play on the phrase “just my adolescence”, is a self-portrait sculpture that reflects the artist's influences and art journey.

The jester figure represents the artist's alter ego while the outer monochromatic cardboard structure pays tribute to the years the artist spent in design and technology. Accompanying the sculpture is a bowl containing beads and an instruction sheet for the audience.

The open back of the sculpture reveals an interior space filled with various toys and items collected by the artist over the years, many of which serve as small tributes to close friends and family who have had an impact on the artist. At the centre is a marble run toy that invites audience interaction, with the marbles representing memories of the audience who engaged with the artwork.

Finally, there is a watercolour painting made by the father of the artist in the hand of the sculpture. It is a recreation of the painting that the artist recalls seeing their father working on during her childhood—a significant moment that inspired the artist to pursue art.