Catalina

This is a portrait of my grandmother, Catalina. She is a hero to me and my entire family and she is one of the strongest women I know. She saved all of us from experiencing the extreme poverty in the Philippines that she grew up in. We would not be here with the opportunities we have today if it was not for her bravery and sacrifice through her immigration. This portrait represents her immigration from the Philippines to America and all that she has endured and lost on the way. Her journey is both of rich culture and forced assimilation but she stands above and perseveres through all her obstacles nonetheless. The colorful patterned background on the left corner are traditional Filipino cloth patterns that de-thread towards the right and fade into abstracted lines. The background represents her immigration and experience of culture, assimilation and loss, while her portrait still stands above it, solid and strong.