"The warmest light is your body."

-Nayyirah Waheed, salt.

The embrace is a natural empathetic response to emotion, and the yearning for a hug is a normal desire for human touch; it is a biological healing action. A hug releases oxytocin in the body, which creates feelings of warmth, wholeness, relaxation, and joy. ‘Embrace’ was inspired by Wong’s aspiration to contribute to advocating the importance of mental health in The Bahamas. This pursuit has encouraged her to research more about the complexity of human behavior and the influence of human interaction. This exhibition addresses the need for human touch and the power it has to heal. Wong believes that we are a soul and spirit living in a body and that our existence transcends space and time. This is seen through her use of circles, which symbolize the essence of a person, and her avoidance of the norms of contextualization. She illustrates the adaptability of humans and their innate need for and aversion to change. Both negative and positive feelings are proof of our humanity, and she intends to evoke distinct emotions in her use of flora and color. This body of work is layered with empathy, the desire for peace, and an immeasurable amount of love. The purpose is to dispel common misconceptions surrounding mental health and counter arguments against counseling and treatment. Embrace is a haven for all those who seek to be vulnerable