Year: 2024

Medium: Mixed Media

Size: 18” x 23”

Others: My mother used to tell me that if I was her picture, then she was my frame. This piece explores that statement, dissecting the relationship of mother and daughter from a cultural lens. The frame, painted in Korean patterns known as Dancheong, represents tradition, which has a prevalent influence on parental relationships. On the right corner hangs a wig, and in Korea, this style of braided hair is traditionally worn only by unmarried girls. Donning the wig is akin to putting on a performance of being a “good” daughter and represents societal and cultural pressures. In contrast to the brightly painted frame, the photographs are black and white or sepia, which are much softer and the pink tones are more traditionally feminine, and feature the women of my family all the way to my maternal great-grandmother. This shows that it is not cultural expectations that define me, but love I give and receive, especially to and from my mother, which is an echo of the love she received from her mother, her mother’s mother before her, and so on. Some photos have jagged edges, representing broken relationships or complex trauma, and some photos are unmarred, depicting the wholeness of a mother’s love. The photos are done in a scrapbook style, showing how I am made of pieces of my experiences with these maternal figures, and there are more Dancheong patterns scattered around, showing an embrace and appreciation of culture rather than feeling restricted by it. Ultimately, this piece shows how culture, tradition, love and trauma can be passed down through generations and how that can both positively or negatively shape identity.