Self-Portrait

Oil Pastel

The artist’s portrait is a deeply personal reflection of their journey from childhood to adulthood, shaped by the challenges of immigration. At the age of 12 or 13, the artist moved to the U.S., a transition that influenced how they viewed both themselves and the world. The portrait captures this transformation—on the left, a bright, colorful image of a prepubescent self represents the innocence and simplicity of youth. On the right, the adult version is darker, heavier, and more rigid, reflecting the complexities of growing up in a new country.

As they navigated adolescence, the artist quickly learned the pressures of being an immigrant, constantly aware of how society and others, particularly in America, perceived them. Masks in the corner symbolize his personal insecurities, while a motif of rays of light from their younger self turns into rigid cubes as an adult, symbolizing the loss of innocence and increasing rigidity in how they view the world.

The artist describes this journey not as a loss, but as a shift toward realism. Though pieces of their younger self have been left behind, they now see the world through a skeptical lens. Not pessimistic, but skeptical—open to being proven wrong, yet cautious. Their story is one of adapting to new experiences while remaining grounded in a sense of self.