Leah Jackson
The Barrier Between Us
This work reflects the inner struggle of being unseen and unheard. The face, half-hidden by hair and shadow, presses against an invisible surface while the hand shields and reaches at once. It suggests both self-protection and a plea for connection. The glass becomes a metaphorical barrier, muting expression and preventing true understanding.
For Deaf people, communication through British Sign Language is often met with barriers, misunderstanding, exclusion, or dismissal. This image captures the emotional toll of those barriers, the isolation of being present but not fully recognised.
The obscured face symbolises the silencing of identity, while the reaching hand embodies the desire to break through, to be acknowledged, and to be seen. This piece is a visual echo of what it feels like to exist behind silence, where voices without sound still struggle to be heard.
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