Undergraduate thesis

Re-Routing Roots

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Re-routing Roots

Constructing a Transnational Identity

May 2018

ABSTRACT

The formation of a transnational identity is a journey. A transnational embarks on this journey as she constantly travels between the two places she calls home: the state of Texas in the United States of America and the city of Metro Manila in the Philippines. Understanding herself through her experiences empowers the transnational to adapt to her surroundings and cope with the stresses of maintaining familial and social relationships across borders.

This thesis attempts to visually articulate the formative processes involved in the proponent’s search for a transnational identity and embody said processes in a thesis work done on paper. The acts of painting on, tearing of, and re-arranging paper comprise the creative processes the result of which is a seminal work that represents the proponent’s transnational identity. Presenting the work along with the video documentation of the processes allow the viewer to go along on the journey and reflect on their own identities traversing through their own experiences.

Keywords: transnational identity, journey, process

This thesis attempts to visually articulate the formative processes involved in the proponent’s search for a transnational identity and embody said processes in a work done one paper.  

Installation shots of the work inside the Corridor Gallery of UP College of Fine Arts. 

a. Installation of the torn pieces

b. Video components of the artist painting and tearing the paperwork

Painting Process

Video of the painting process

-Painting set up at the studio

-Close up shot of the 30ft. long  work on paper

Tearing Process

Video of the tearing process (sound on)

Aftermath of the act of tearing

Torn Pieces