Mother, today I saw a creature. Her eyes would flicker wide open at the sound of impending footsteps. A squealed grin of cheshire jubilee. Leathery, green skin lighting up like a lava lamp. Sunbeam colors blooming as ripe flowers. You should have seen it. It was even more spectacular than the projector breathing that barren whiteboard into life. But she would only act this way for special someones. For others, her eyes would remain closed. No fireworks within her skin. A mirror for a majority. When shrieks of merriment erupted, she was the spitting image of a grinning dandelion with its petals crowning her head. Quite astonishing. Perhaps, a body language?
Creeping to whichever side of the room where the someones lingered. Scales shifting with excitement. Maybe she hoped they would feed her their daily extravaganza and ritzy loot: Her favorite treats of dopamine and adrenaline. Because that’s when she’s an absolute tableau of frenzied northern lights. With the slightest hue of earthborn clay.
What is this creature that you ask of, mother? Why, the teacher’s pet, the chameleon.
Artist Statement Throughout different environments, you also meet different people who learn how to change their tones, expressions, and language depending on who they interact with. Such switches in behavior can be called “code switching.” Through this piece, I explored how it can also be like that of a chameleon.