Perception is a visual interrogation of the duality inherent in human identity, challenging the societal impulse to reduce individuals to singular, static narratives. Through photography, the project dissects the tension between the curated selves we perform and the hidden truths we safeguard—whether in professional, academic, or personal spheres. By merging conflicting emotional states into layered portraits, the work argues that duality is not deception but a survival mechanism, urging viewers to abandon reductive judgements and embrace empathy.

Refraction

Mirror of the Unseen Child

Eclipsed Self

Veiled Paradox

Cold Concealed

Warmth Unmasked

Gesture of Duality

The Heart’s Blind Spot
"We are mosaics, not monoliths. ‘To judge a person by a single shard is to deny the art of their entirety."
— Rikii Altamirano.
— Rikii Altamirano.