2019  •  40 x 30"  Show size

oil, printed fabric, stitched plush items, plastic stitched to linen

The left figure wears a Filipino kimona and is holding a hammer, which references the Filipina on centavo coins that were minted under US occupation. She represents looking towards building a better future. The figure on the right is a present-day Filipina American, holding a wooden fan and she protects the past. Together they guard an orb of water that contains mangoes, milkfish, and purple yams-- all representing foods that are native to the islands. The orb emits sun rays, nodding to the sun on the Filipino flag. The food items outside the orb are items from the US, which are seen as high status foods because they’re American. Even though those foods come preserved and packaged, they are items that are bent out of shape and ignored by the figures.