Heirlooms (2022)
A few years ago, I was housing a young Syrian refugee, whose only possession was a gold chain he often subconsciously caressed. Through him, I met many other refugees and despite their impoverished state, I couldn’t help but notice that nearly all of them wore a piece of gold from their homeland. These were small but potent links to their past.
About the same time, my mother asked me to choose pieces from her jewelry for after she passed. With our strained relationship, I dreaded the task. I imagined a necklace choking me with memories, her bracelets shackling me, and her brooches becoming badges of dubious honor. A few rings intrigued me for their ancestral value, but not as pieces I’d wear.
As an immigrant myself, I was struck by the contrast: while my mother’s jewelry felt burdensome, theirs carried essential memories and identity.
This series explores the items refugees and immigrants bring from home—portable family treasures heavy with heritage. These artworks explore the beauty of heirlooms, the weight of the past, the pain of displacement, and the strength required to start anew.
