All socioeconomic and racial groups are democratically and incessantly enticed to venture beyond the glass walls of retail establishments. In return for purchases they are promised higher social status, more influential friends and a more glamorous lifestyle. But these purchases often come at an extremely high cost, both financially and psychologically.
Personal happiness and well-being are not for sale at the mall despite what we are led to believe by advertising and social media. Materialistic tendencies have been linked to decreased life satisfaction, lower self-esteem and decreased overall happiness while also increasing anxiety, racism, and antisocial behavior.
Many people find themselves caught in a superficial spiral of consumerism that leaves them in debt and unable to escape the cycle of purchasing more and more in an attempt to prove their worth to themselves and the world.
This ongoing project explores the superficiality and emptiness that is ultimately what is found by many behind the glass walls of retails establishments. Taken out of the context of a bustling mall that inundates our senses and encourages us to spend our hard-earned money, the window displays, lighting, and even the architectural design appear superficial and reflect a feeling of emptiness that cannot be filled by more material goods.