In Wish , Bethel Dute moves beyond the solitary introspection of her previous works and enters the realm of the subconscious. The piece depicts a child suspended over a vibrant, turbulent void, accompanied by an inverted shadow that suggests a deeper, hidden reality.

The 'wish' here is no longer a quiet moment behind closed hands, but an active, sprawling leap into the unknown. Dute uses rhythmic, topographical lines to create a sense of energy emanating from the subject, while the stark contrast between the vivid blue and deep crimson backgrounds symbolizes the divide between hope and fear. The reflection below—a dark, simplified version of the girl—serves as a reminder of the weight we carry even in our moments of lightness. It is a masterful exploration of the duality of childhood—the capacity for boundless imagination alongside the emergence of a complex, sometimes heavy, inner identity.