Artist Statement

From exploring cultures to utilizing my imagination, art was my vehicle into a world of freedom and exploration. My portfolio is a reflection of my childhood experiences and memories, drawing upon moments of joy, wonder, and sometimes unsettling realities. The theme that drives my work is a desire to capture the essence of innocence, nostalgia, and the complexities of growing up, while also touching on larger societal and environmental issues.

Childhood memories consisting of family traditions are explored in "I Love Turkey". The playful scene of my sister devouring a turkey leg is depicted as it is a quirky family tradition from our trips to Disneyland. Childhood memories are also utilized to further explain the reality of our environmental issues. "Sad Fairy Tale" follows the themes of environmental awareness and childhood innocence. I used fairies—symbols of childhood imagination—to convey a darker message about the environmental crisis, where a distressed baby seal is trapped in a net amidst a polluted landscape. By making this piece 3D with multiple layers, I am able to create further emotional depth by adding intricate layers of meaning that juxtapose the soft, childlike imagery with harsher industrial debris.

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My artwork strives to preserve, explore, and comment on the experiences that shaped me as a child, while also addressing the challenges we face today. I aim to capture the magic and simplicity of making something from nothing, a reminder of a time when imagination was my greatest resource. Through my art, I hope to invite viewers to see the world through the eyes of a child—full of wonder, humor, and a desire for a better future.