“Softened Edges” explores the quiet tension between intimacy and distance, presence and absence, closeness and remoteness. Each work depicts a single figure — the artist himself, or his partner — never seen directly, but always reflected, framed, or observed. This consistent perspective invites viewers into a relationship defined not by symmetry,

but by vulnerability and gaze. A key thread throughout the exhibition is the idea of transparency — the quality of allowing light to pass through, making something visible without obstruction. It becomes both a formal device and an emotional framework: reflections, light-filled interiors, and softened edges evoke a visual openness, while the content of the work gestures toward the emotional transparency necessary for safety and honesty in intimate relationships.

This honesty — unflinching and often melancholic — is central to Berman’s practice. Each image is a document of emotional labor: the work of showing oneself fully while navigating the lingering effects of trauma, queer dislocation, and the complexity of being seen by someone you love. The result is a visual space where solitude and connection coexist, where being close doesn’t always mean feeling known, and where the light that passes through becomes a symbol of both exposure and trust.

Text: Jemma Elliott Israelson