Copper, Brass Wire, Heat patina, Chasing & Repoussé (12”x7”x.25”)

Buddha sat under the Bodhi tree when first reaching enlightenment. I grew up collecting Bodhi leaves for luck and protection with my two sisters, instilling a feminine quality in my association with the leaf. My piece is the manifestation of enlightenment through the lens of a delicate, floral form as I always imagined it as a girl.

14"x6.5".25"

Brass, Copper

[Die forming, Fabrication, Heat Patina]

As a child I felt frustrated and embarrassed towards my culture unconventional family, since I lacked a mother figure. I constantly felt excluded from the crowd and sought validation through appearance maintenance and adapting to communities I didn’t fit into. Later on, I realized the value of my identity and the truth in unattainable beauty standards. Thereafter, I let go of trends and studied timeless forms of beauty.

This piece treats the body as part of a floral arrangement, discussing how the human body, like botanicals, has always been studied as a complex art form to express. I drew inspiration from seeing the evolution of flowers rendered in countless different interactions throughout Ancient dynasties and civilization until now.

Graphite (18”x24”)

“Ugh, Hana. You used to be SO good [at Chinese].“ At a time when I am most “in touch“ with my culture, I celebrate final birthday of the Chinese girl and first of the American girl who will rapidly begin assimilating.