Gilded Mirage

A woman stands in full radiance—her face framed by lush leaves and vivid flowers, her golden sunglasses reflecting a world of beauty. She is poised, glamorous, and striking—an image fit for a magazine cover. But as the AR experience unfolds, her sunglasses begin to reveal her real eyes—watching us, aware, knowing. She is not just an object of admiration; she is a witness.

Then, the illusion fractures. The camera pulls back, revealing the truth hidden behind her—the remains of a city ruined by war. Buildings lie in rubble, a thick cloud of smoke rises from a distant bomb, and devastation stretches into the distance. The vibrance that once surrounded her becomes a cruel contrast to the destruction behind her. She stands still, gazing at us, and then the scene fades to black.

This piece explores the Western gaze—how beauty and spectacle distract from suffering, how war is seen only when convenient, and how entire worlds are erased beneath the gloss of curated aesthetics. We admire the image, but do we see the truth behind it?

She sees us. The question is, will we choose to see her?