A Book of Diaspora/Disquiet

Reconnected Outsiders

Artwork description:

Immigration-related issues are riddled with every step a “foreigner” takes in the US. From school admissions and lotteries to endless paperwork, uncertainty and restrictions loom large. For individuals born in China and India, securing permanent residency can be an arduous ordeal lasting over a decade. This process involves securing a job that complies with legal regulations, finding an employer who is willing to sponsor for green card petition, going through a lengthy application, even if approved, waiting for four to over ten years, and if changing employers midway, having to start the entire process again. For those who share similar experiences, empathy and recognition transcend language. Yet, our collective emotion has never been a part of the mainstream narrative of the American Dream.

Through projection and printed materials, we give tangible form to this dual narrative and the nuanced emotions it entails. Beginning with a printed page, our artwork serves as a visible representation of our lives: advanced degrees, career accomplishments, and the aspiration to assimilate seamlessly into American society. As the projected moving image unfolds, additional layers of text emerge, revealing the hidden depths of our emotions.