Small Talk I explores the performative nature of everyday interactions, the disconnect between words and emotions, and the facades we maintain in conversation. The phrase “I’m doing well, thanks” is a common response—automatic, polite, yet often far from the truth. Paired with the vintage telephone, it evokes nostalgia for a time when conversations were more deliberate, when people were less readily available, but more present when they did communicate. The worn textures and muted tones suggest layers of history, repetition, and the way language can wear thin over time. The vibrant green handset, however, remains striking—an object of communication and connection, yet also a symbol of distance. Through this piece, I invite the viewer to consider the weight of words left unsaid and the spaces between what we say and what we truly feel.