For the past two years, I have created intricate and autobiographical paintings by mining the archives of various universities, libraries, museums, and public collections. The resulting paintings act as a living document of my experiences. In a new phase of my work, I turn to my own archive of paintings to produce works that exist solely in the digital realm. They function as an archeological survey, with new works cannibalizing the old. The paintings appropriate children’s book illustrations, advertising, art history and popular culture; focusing on themes of immigration, assimilation, climate change, xenophobia and social justice. The lines between traditional painting and digital production are blurred beyond recognition. The images are flattened, layered, and stacked, calling attention to the psychological space of borders, identities, and histories. The paintings utilize my personal history as an entry point to discuss race, representation, and the memories of cultures and countries left behind. 4k media file available.
