My work is concerned with the desire for connection within an increasingly mediated world. Within a diasporic landscape, constituted by globalized capitalism and historically distant spiritualism, my work functions to detail the complexity of the self in an ever shifting world. A person’s identity relies on the environment and other individuals that the person is with which affects the totality of their being. In the contemporary times, a new territory has been introduced; the digital realm where people can interact with other beings and fabricate their selfhood. As an immigrant, it is common for a displaced individual to feel a lack of self and sense of belonging to a foreign land which can result to latching onto commodities or other-worldly connections to fill the gap. My work also draws the parallels of the fleeting nature of digital media with ghosts, memories and the human experience. Ultimately, I attempt to detail the lineages of history as an anchor to ground us to a new sense of reality.
The application of performance in video form gives me the ability to portray my existence despite my physical body not being present in the exhibition space. The use of projections in most of my works portray the loss or distance of my selfhood and culture. By placing these projections in an installation setting, I position the viewers in the perspective of a displaced individual compelling them to empathize with the diasporic community in their displacement. Utilizing these digital mediums gives me the freedom to convey a scene and play around with the concepts of absence and presence especially when I include tangible objects in the installation.
The use of projections in my practice is inspired from the research of Jean Baudrillard and Marina Warner; two scholars who have made significant contributions to cultural studies. While Baudrillard’s focus is more on the ways in which technology and media are transforming our understanding of reality, Warner’s focus is more on the enduring power of myth and story shaping our worldview. Despite their different areas of research, both scholars share an interest in how cultural artifacts shape our perceptions of reality and ourselves.
I propose that by understanding the components that make up one’s selfhood, we become more aware of the impact our actions have on the identity of the others. Through my works, I aim to encourage viewers to reflect on their own identities and how they contribute to the identities of those around them. In essence, my objective is to cultivate empathy and facilitate a greater comprehension of the intricate nature of identity in a world increasingly influenced by
technology and media.
