Medium: Acrylic and watercolor on paper

Size: 711.2x629.92mm or 28x24.8in

Date: 2018

Philosophy of Color refers to racial and demographic reports conducted by the 2010 US Census. Through colored pencil, watercolor and graphite, this work investigates the identities of L.A. immigrant communities and the borders between them. Borders, wage gaps and historical segregation give rise to a divided existence that persists to this day.

Each neighborhood is represented by the predominant demographic’s country flag. For example, I shade city blocks in red and gold to illustrate the Chinese American neighborhoods of Chinatown, Monterey Park and Cerritos. Red and gold are the same colors in the Chinese Five-star Red Flag. The work examines how immigrant families define themselves based on their countries of origin.