Will I Make It to the Other Side?
Pieces of My Self-Portrait
2023
Available
I don’t draw or paint figures. However, the figures I drew, collaged, and painted in the series are my intuitive exploration, representing instances that were significant to me from childhood to motherhood. I needed to embed them with mandalas to narrate my stories.
This series became my first body of work as I emerged from the creative block I experienced in 2022.
I felt vulnerable, but it was freeing.
Will I Make It to the Other Side?
From childhood into adulthood, I was mediocre, especially in academics. I had never expressed any curiosity or willingness to learn anything. No one forced me or questioned me except my aunt, who showed concern because she wanted me to excel in school. I put in the bare minimum effort to obtain average grades, which had its downside. I realized how competitive it was to get accepted into a college. The voice kept returning to me — Will I make it to the other side? I was open to majoring in any subject. I realized how essential a college education was to getting a job and supporting my family. I wanted to be a responsible daughter. I ended up majoring in Economics and obtained a diploma in Computer Programming, which became a starting point of my life.
A mandala drawing begins with a dot in the center, the awakening point. The symbols and motifs that radiate out further represent our journey toward knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment.
Medium
Mixed Media on cradled board
Image Size
6" H X 12" W X 1.5" D
The artwork is original and signed. The painting is varnished for protection, wired, and ready to hang. No framing is required.