Amelie Qiao

Perth Modern School

Year 11

Oil paint on canvas

91 x 61 cm

I wanted to explore the struggle between personal expectations and the harsh realities of the world. Everyone experiences disappointment, and I wanted to highlight my frustration when failing to meet my self-imposed expectations and the standards set by society. I find that disappointment has become harder to escape. Rather than internal struggles with letting yourself down, external factors are a constant reminder of how hard the future will be. In my generation, with the rising cost of living and the housing crisis, it seems so difficult to achieve what past generations have done.