In Free Range, Mr Phantom presents freedom not as something denied, but as something quietly abandoned. The cage door stands open, yet the bird remains inside, its attention held by the warm glow of a screen. The contradiction shifts the meaning of captivity from physical restraint to psychological dependence, suggesting that modern confinement may be voluntary and almost imperceptible. Surrounded by darkness, the illuminated device becomes both comfort and captor, offering stimulation while drawing attention away from the open door. Through this restrained composition, Mr Phantom questions whether access to freedom holds any value when we no longer choose to look beyond the systems that occupy us.
