Beyond the Cover: A Self Portrait
Tatiana Boccone
From birth, I've lived as a divided self—half my mother, half my father; half-Filipino, half-American. This dual heritage fuels a constant quest for belonging, an unending exhaustion defending my place in both Asia and America, wrestling with perpetual displacement. The middle ground I navigate offers no respite, leaving me yearning for a home.
In the Philippines, I encountered physical rejection; in America, I experienced intellectual estrangement. Blaming my visible attributes for the cultural clash I faced, I sought refuge in art and discovered an identity as well as a voice. Despite a tumultuous relationship with self, as an artist and designer, I embrace the journey.
My thesis unfolds as an ode to years of "unbelonging," evolving through years of eventual understanding and finally, to a loving acceptance of the person that I am. Through fragmented portraits, sweeping landscapes, and poignant still lifes, I've crafted a self-portrait in book form. This visual narrative traces the arc from the confusion of "unbelonging" to the peaceful acceptance of me—smiles, scars and all.
I invite you to leaf through the pages of my thesis, and join me on this transformative journey. Through the lens of my experiences, you may gain a new perspective on the intricate tapestry of human identity, much like my own—a mosaic of cultural threads woven into a unique and resilient individual.