During my semester abroad in Europe I realized the power of being labeled as an American. Sometimes it was super positive and sometimes it was negative. But I would ignore what people would say because I wanted to make friends. Being labeled the “American girl from New York” had its burdens because many people I've encountered had preconceived notions of how I would be. Strangers would look past my Korean appearance and automatically put me into the category of a stereotypical American girl that they see as portrayed in Hollywood films. Their assumptions made me think about what it means to be an American and more importantly, an Asian born outside of Asia.
She : Flower is a project that explores issues of identity, culture, and race through formal portraiture. The portraits are taken with a large format film camera and then paired with a blurred image of each subject's selected favorite flower. The 4x5 camera acts as a medium for intimate conversation between each girl about their Asian identity. I capture their expressions mid-sentence to convey the subtle tension of belonging to two cultures. In order to allow my subjects' full expression, they were directed to wear their favorite article of clothing prior to the shoot. By including their favorite flower, a dialogue is created of personal identity that is rooted in both femininity and individual beauty.
