The idea of home and family relationships is a theme that connects my pieces. Through installations, animation, and ceramics, I show my revolving relationship with my mother. Using red to symbolize her, I expressed how I felt overprotected and restricted but also feeling her warmth and love. Over the past few years, we have learned a better communication method and understand each other more. In my repetitive and therapeutic ways of art-making, I learned to process my emotions and think about both perspectives of our relationship. Through my art, I advocate the importance of family and emotions in shaping one’s identity.

A few years ago, my mother survived breast cancer. After her mastectomy surgery, I didn’t fully support her because I wasn’t able to fully understand the disease at a young age. In the Breast Cancer series, I used porcelain and design to express my guilt. I felt that I caused the disease because of my mother’s sacrifices for me. To make up for those times, I designed and fabricated a custom bra that brings her confidence and support. Then, I applied my design to create an easily customizable bra to benefit the breast cancer survivors’ community. Through this journey, I learned and advocate that beauty is based on experience rather than appearance.

Over quarantine, I directed my focus on the space and its relationship with the audience. In recent installations, I created spaces to capture the emotion of a moment for the audience to experience. During the summer, my struggles with depression and self-doubt have lead me to explore the idea of escape. In my future studies, I will dive deeper into how space creates an experience through visual arts and design.