Ripples in a Pond is part of Lebanese-American artist Yasmina Hilal’s larger body of work, I See Me in You, 2023, a series that explores the tactile qualities of memory and the fluidity of identity through fashion, family heirlooms, and reflective surfaces. In this series, Hilal dresses young women, including herself, in the clothing of their mothers and grandmothers, creating a visual dialogue between generations. The phrase “I See Me in You” encapsulates the act of recognizing oneself in another, a sentiment echoed in Ripples in a Pond, where the blurring of faces and forms suggests a merging of identities across time.

In Ripples in a Pond, the inkjet print on acetate presents the image of a woman in a white lace dress – an heirloom garment passed down through Hilal’s family. The photograph is intentionally manipulated to create blistered and rippled surfaces, distorting the contours of the subject and evoking the hazy nature of recollection. This technique mirrors Hilal’s broader approach in I See Me in You, where portraits were printed onto resin molds made from vintage photo frames collected by her grandmother, amplifying the sense of inherited memory.

Hilal’s artistic practice is deeply rooted in manual processes, deliberately foregoing digital manipulation in favor of physical alteration. The acetate in Ripples in a Pond is subjected to heat and pressure, introducing fractures and imperfections that mimic the distortion of memory – how time can warp, obscure, and fragment personal narratives. The glossy, reflective surface of the acetate enhances the illusion of water, its rippling effect reminiscent of the way memories resurface and dissolve.

By employing such tactile techniques, Hilal captures the visceral experience of memory, transforming familial heirlooms into haunting visual meditations on heritage, loss, and the passage of time. The work underscores the artist’s commitment to using craft as a conduit for emotional resonance, inviting viewers to contemplate the enduring impact of the past on the present.