Artist Statement

My work uses fish as a means of exploring identity and my struggle against cultural norms placed by society, my family, and my own self-critical thinking. I am influenced by my experiences as a second generation Japanese American, living a life where I feel I do not belong. Growing up in a Japanese household in America, while dealing with American enculturation, was conflicting. Overhearing others who believed I would not fit in made me question myself from a young age. Who am I? Why am I different?

The fish in my work reflect my childhood and heritage. My parents run a sushi restaurant, so seeing the process of preparing and breaking down fish for consumption and the vast selection of fish on the market became a part of my daily life. It was during these moments when as a child, standing on my toes to get a better view of my father picking bones out of salmon or my mother gutting mackerel for dinner, that I got to learn more about their home country. However, learning about the culture in Japan from my parents made me realize that, just like in America, I would not fit in Japan either. By utilizing painting and several forms of printmaking such as lithography, intaglio, screenprint, and relief, I convey these feelings of identity crisis.