silver gelatin print
“The social justice issues in my artwork address mixed race in America, specifically Asian American, and how people are viewed and judged for their appearance. My work compares/contrasts my parents’ physical differences and how they come together to create me. This topic is personally significant to me because I am of mixed race and have felt like I am a part of this gray area in between one race and another. I never feel like I truly belong in one or the other, which makes me not fully understand an important part of my identity. It is socially relevant because many people can relate to feeling lonely as well as alienated from other people. My image portrays two overlapped images of my parents partially covering each other’s faces with their eyes lined up, allowing the viewer to easily compare their features, and even differing cultures. They are so different but come together to create a beautiful mix that should not be judged and is unique. The artists I researched inspired me to have a very straightforward message as well as my theme of a combination of different races that is very applicable to the world.”
ARTIST BIO: Sophie CHENG is a student at Summit Country Day School studying art under art teacher Carrie Barnett.