Shhh

Rachel Lee Hovnanian created Shhh in 2019 as part of her solo exhibition Open Secrets to represent the suppression of truth. The bust is concealed within a shrine-like enclosure connected to loops of coiled tubing, which becomes a vessel for transmitting whispers that can be received by a listener in the cabinet adjacent to the bust. With this, Hovnanian alludes to the winding nature of the path to truth. The existence of angels is un-provable, just as secrets may frequently be void of tangible evidence. Our reluctance to speak our truths can stem from fear, which has led countless people to remain silent.