Nothing is neutral and unpolitical; one must investigate the sociopolitical and historical context, seek critical interpretations, and evaluate what is and isn’t included. Growing up as a biracial child of immigrants defined the way I view and interact with the world and has molded me into the person I am today, with how it interacts with me. My artistic practice is heavily influenced by my experience attending a German school in Japan, where I was ostensibly surrounded by my community and peers, yet still deemed inadequate and excluded. Literary and historical analysis has especially defined how I consume media, and much of the German and Japanese stories I grew up around have underlying themes of political unrest, war, and natural catastrophes and their consequences. With a grotesque, abstracted depiction of the world, my high-contrast illustrations and comics primarily explore otherization and grief. I examine perception and identity through a multicultural lens, blending abstract narratives with visual metaphors and seemingly disconnected representational images. My intuitive practice draws on the subconscious and seeks unknown influences, allowing me to focus on conveying tone and atmosphere. With the underlying themes of otherization in my art, it is of utmost importance to investigate biases and ideological challenges and push back on the validity and solidity of beliefs.
