What are you? Where are you from? You speak good English…of course, I was born here.

At a younger age, I didn’t really ask questions about my family’s origins. Why are we here? How did we get here? What is my purpose growing up as an American dealing with traditional Korean values?

I didn’t see those differences then. However, as I grew into a young adult, I experienced first hand people’s perceptions of where I fit. I started doing more research by taking Asian American history courses and asking my parents questions about their past.

My parents have come a long way since they’ve immigrated to America.
Having parents that were raised with Korean traditions and learning about their experiences starting in a new country, I saw why they strived for my sister and me to accomplish the things that they were not able to due to language barriers.

Currently, I am exploring new concepts in my photography and mixed media that involve family history and Americanization. I’ve been heavily using my family’s antique photos to help illustrate this. My constructed quilt-like flag represents an integration of my Korean and American background. Alternatively, my on-going works of shadow boxes are representations on my family’s immigration to America and ways that has shaped me into the person I am now.