Being mixed is not easy. I come from one of the most diverse countries in the world, yet it’s the place where I often feel the most divided. I constantly shift which ethnicity or cultural background I identify with depending on my surroundings and the people around me.
Because of this, I also struggle to sustain genuine friendships. I’m a people-pleaser—I want to be liked—and I often subconsciously change myself to meet others’ expectations. In doing so, I divide from my true self to become the version of me they want to see.
Connections shape our lives: family, friends, acquaintances, strangers, lovers. Some come and go, some stay. Some leave an impression, welcomed or not. Which connections shine brightest within you? Which have faded, disappeared, or have yet to be made?
My abstract series “Connection” (「つながり」), 2025, is a collection of pieces created with cloth, gesso, oil paint, and wax pastels. Each line represents a person—a connection. The ones fading into the background or trailing outside the implied frame speak for themselves. I intentionally left parts of the cloth visible to represent the foundation of relationships. We all begin from zero, building upward, just like the construction of this piece. And just like this work, we coexist in the present, holding, valuing, and remembering the connections we’ve made, still have, and have lost.
Through this series, I not only aimed to reconnect with myself, but also to reflect on the connections I’ve made, lost, and those beginning to fade. Do I still have the power to rekindle that spark, or is it too late?
How about you? Who comes to mind when you think of connection? Are you connected with yourself?
There’s an emotional tangibility I wanted to capture in this piece—something you don’t just see, but feel. Because in the end, connection isn’t just about others. It’s also about learning how to hold space for yourself.
