There are some works that demand to be looked at, and others that ask to be felt. This piece does both. Part of Norris Yim’s ongoing NAMELESS series, the portrait is intentionally faceless. Thick, sculptural strokes of matte acrylic obscure every feature, creating a ghost of a person rather than a representation of one. What remains is the suggestion of identity: something once whole, now blurred by the expectations and performances we absorb over time.

The artwork confronts the emotional cost of conformity. In a society that often values appearance over authenticity, the self can become fractured, concealed, or even erased. This painting is not a cry for attention, but rather a quiet response to that erasure. A reflection of how we adapt, hide, and sometimes disappear in order to survive.

The Bali Collect curates art pieces that carry depth & are intentionally diverse—spanning mediums, regions, and perspectives. Every work is chosen with meaning in mind, unified by a sense of presence.

Yim’s portrait holds space for that tension, between being seen and being understood. It doesn’t rush to reveal itself, and it doesn’t ask the viewer to either. Like much of the work we feature, it invites pause. In a fast-moving world, art like this is a reminder that stillness can be powerful, that not everything has to explain itself loudly to speak clearly.

Explore this piece and more from the collection on https://www.thebalicollect.com/shop/fine-art

“In order to conform to the hypocritical life of society, people disguise their true selves, overwhelmed by false facades, losing their souls and becoming mere shells. This thought process gives birth to a series of abstract portraits that express society’s compassion and sadness, as well as the fear of facing a deceptive life.”

– Norris Yim, Artist