Teacher Name: Eric Hill
Grade: 12
Dimensions: 10.5” × 14”
Artist Statement: “Khushi” is a mixed media self portrait collage about accepting my cultural identity. The title of the piece is my name translated in Nepali. The figure is a more abstract version of my face wearing green Dhago braided in the hair with golden Newari Makasi earrings. The red collage background represents a duality of having to overcome bullying for who I was when I was younger and how my present self is trying to piece that identity together while adding new parts to it. I decided on a mostly red, blue and white theme to represent the flags of both America and Nepal. The use of bold and flat paint application is a homage to old Nepali paintings which use similar hues to depict figures. I also have a festive dessert food in the background called Yomari, which is steamed rice flour dough in the shape of a fish that’s filled with Chaku.