No 7: YEAR OF THE RABBIT

SAYA CHHO

I made this piece as a reflection of myself and my identity as an Asian American. The rabbit represents my zodiac, and the background of the television and skirt, made by Origami paper, is a symbol of a disconnection from my Japanese cultural identity. This piece captures the feeling of having your identity stripped and erased. I was born and raised in Japan, but at the age of ten, my family and I left our country and moved to Park City, Utah. When I moved from Japan to Utah, my experience with my identity and race changed drastically. I was confused as to what group I fitted into and I was forced to assimilate by attempting to disregard my culture. I was often bullied for how I spoke with a Japanese accent and how my school lunches smelled. Throughout my childhood, I felt like I did not fit into a group. I was too white for the Asian kids and too Asian for the white kids. To this day I still struggle with my identity and race and their interconnectedness. My whiteness makes me feel disconnected from my birthplace and my ethnicity which is undeniably a part of me, but my Asian-ness makes me a minority in America. Recently, I have been trying to reconnect with my culture. I made this painting as a creative outlet to represent the damage I've done to my Identity.