Things Are Closer Than They Appear

My thesis investigates the themes of identity, nationality, and place. My work draws on the theories of spiritism and animism, and on the history of Laotian traditions and culture through the incorporation of found objects and family photographs of my heritage. To visualize my own rediscovery of my family’s diverse past and present, I use a broad selection of media including paintings, photographs, cyanotypes, and sculptural installations. Through my synthesis of diverse materials, I create new worlds where I belong. Reuniting and harmonizing the content in my work is a form of remembrance. I have come to realize my own ancestral history is closer and more connected to me than I expected.