This work explores coercive control — a subtle yet pervasive form of domestic abuse rooted in power and psychological dominance. Often hidden within everyday life, it operates through intimidation, restriction, and fear, leaving little visible evidence.

The installation takes the form of an ordinary cardboard box — a familiar domestic object associated with moving, storage, and daily life. Its banality is intentional. By using a recognisable and seemingly harmless material, the work reflects how abuse can exist within spaces that appear normal, safe, and overlooked. The “FRAGILE” tape complicates this reading, suggesting care while concealing harm.

The viewer must physically approach and look through a small opening to encounter the interior. This restricted viewpoint mirrors the limited visibility of coercive control —  something that can be sensed but rarely fully seen.

Inside, a solitary figure is confined within a tight, enclosed space. Her posture suggests both discomfort and endurance, emphasising the pressure of confinement. Behind her, unseen forces emerge from darkness, subtly restraining her body and silencing her voice. These hands represent control that is present yet obscured.

By positioning the viewer as an active observer, the work invites reflection on the difficulty of recognising and responding to hidden forms of abuse, highlighting the tension between visibility and concealment within domestic space.