Bachelard once described the shell as a whole world, a place that protects dreams. In my own life, I have always felt like a pearl living inside a shell — protected, cared for, and deeply loved. A pearl is not meant to exist naturally inside a shell. It begins as an unexpected intrusion, yet the shell chooses not to reject it. Instead, it slowly gives part of itself to protect the pearl, layer after layer, until the pearl gains its shine. In many ways, all of the pearl’s beauty comes from the shell. Yet when people speak about the shell, they often only notice the pearl inside it. This project is a letter of gratitude to my mother, and to everyone who gives endlessly to others without asking for anything in return. It is about a kind of love that cannot be measured instantly, but only understood through time, patience, and sacrifice. In this work, the human body and the shell are closely connected. It is not simply a combination of two forms, but an attempt to see the world through the shell’s perspective — to understand the most basic human energy: to love and to be loved. Creating this piece also became a journey of self-discovery and personal growth. During the making process, I experienced the quiet act of giving, and slowly understood the simplest definition of love: giving, compromising, and making space for someone else. I love you more than myself.