This ongoing series of paintings and larger-than-life mixed media drawings attempts to reconcile the multifaceted layers of my identity within the broader context of the Asian diaspora. As a third-generation mixed-race woman of Japanese descent living in the U.S., I find myself at the intersection of cultures, navigating the complexities of straddling two worlds. The theme of being told that I 'don't even look Asian', while well-intentioned by some, encapsulates the perpetual othering experienced by individuals of mixed heritage.

My knowledge of Japan has come in adulthood via the distorted prism of American consumer culture: bright and impersonal pop art baubles, fashion tee shirts, candies, and kawaii toys that are far removed from the meanings and values inherent in traditional Japanese history. Further complicating access to this history is the weight of unspoken hardships endured by the previous two generations of my family in Japanese relocation centers during WWII.

Influenced by a history of art that rarely portrays someone who looks like me, my work aims to encapsulate the shared experience of those who find themselves negotiating the delicate balance between an erased cultural heritage and the ever-evolving present.