Cемья - Thesis

A heavy box lies within my home. I’m curious as to what is inside, open it up, and find items from St. Petersburg, Russia. I discover a Russian doll, a porcelain tea set that is blue and white with gold accents, and a perfectly broken jewelry holder. Along with these objects, I also find a painting of my orphanage framed in gold, and my Russian passport issued in infancy. I’ve titled this work “Cемья,” which focuses on my most cherished relationships. As a form of portraiture, I document important objects that represent specific people in my life, and explore a photographic description of love and connection. In addition, I create self-portraits to better understand my identity, birth country, and adoption. I often wonder what it would be like if I was still in Russia, with a Russian family? I’ve described this thought in a self portrait, an image with my eyes closed and my Russian name written across my face. When you are adopted, you question the life that you could have lived in your native country; however, what really matters is your chosen family and the people whom you grew up with and learned from. This is your true family.