Tells

Tells considers how quickly we construct judgement and perception from appearance. We form impressions before knowing personal information, and these everyday details operate as signals that invite us to assign identities to others. The title is taken from poker vernacular, where a “tell” is an involuntary sign that seems to reveal what someone holds. In this work, the signs are familiar and culturally embedded. What feels recognizable may also be speculative. Rather than confirming these assumptions, Tells leaves them unresolved, drawing attention to the moment when perception becomes projection.

•