By: Andrea Cruz
To the Mexican-American community, I looked mixed. To all
other races, I look Mexican. Yet, I was raised in a Chinese household. When I
am with my family, I have the same life experiences as a Chinese American. But
am I Chinese? Not really, because, in public, due to my Latina features, I have
faced the same discrimination as my fellow Mexican Americans have. I have the
life experiences of two different races and cultures. Naturally, thinking about
my identity has only brought on headaches and confusion. I constantly feel like
a victim of mistaken identity.
This self-portrait reflects my confusion over my identity. I
wear a mask in public because people will see what they want to see, no matter
how much I argue or justify myself. Yet, at the end of the day, when I finally
get a chance to do some soul-searching, I don’t have an answer. I am still on a
journey of self-discovery. For now, I’ve settled on mixed race, an ambiguous
label in itself already.
As an artist, I wanted to be honest. Many of my mixed race
peers struggle with this question of how to identify. Everyone answers
differently and everyone has their own reasons.
I love the concept of your piece, it is simple but very raw. I appreciate you disclosing about your self in this piece. The artist statement does a good a job explaining your intent on the piece. Overall I think it is great, but next time think of a more creative method to discuss your experience being mixed.
ReplyDeleteI think that the idea behind this image is there and the artist statement helps explain that idea. I appreciate you sharing your feelings about your identity and the struggles you have faced. The only thing I wanted to advise you on would be to explain the reasoning behind the door. Does this image show the struggles you face once you leave or does it explain your feeling once you are in your private space?
ReplyDeleteGreat job connecting your art piece and artist statement together. I appreciate that you shared your background and explained that you do not have a set answer to your identity. But it does not matter what others think of you as long as you are comfortable in your skin. I am glad you explained how you are perceived as a race traitor without stating that exactly. Great job!!
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you just took a picture of yourself, not necessarily using another medium to present yourself as a race traitor/mixed raced, is in itself a powerful one. Nevertheless, I would have loved to have seen what you could have drawn/sketched. Your statement struck me most, and it revealed a true experience. I now have a better understanding of what it means to look like on race, and live like a complete other, and experience the discrimination of both sides. The mask and your entrance through the door was a great idea, well done.
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ReplyDeleteI like the concept behind your piece, because for some people as we come home, we get to shed our masks that the public see, but at the same time, we are left with the emotions and thoughts that linger. I like how you explain how you feel about being mixed race, and that you struggle with situations that don't even actual go with who you really are, but it's just become a part of you at this point. I like how your artist statement is straight forward, but I think you can add a bit more information such as any other inspiration behind creating your piece or explaining the details of the photo itself more
ReplyDeleteYour image gets what you're trying to say across. I can feel this sort of 'exhaustion' coming from you as you open the door and step back inside. Everything from the placement of your step to the direction of your eyes conveys this feeling of fatigue, which comes with pretending to be something that you're not. When the facade is dropped, we're all tired. This photo is well done, simple yet powerful. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI really like your statement. It's personal and raw. However, I feel that there is something missing from your portrait. I wonder why you chose the scene when you open the door? The mask is difficult to find just because it is not solid.
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