THORNPETAL

“Kapwa” (shared inner self) is about the symbiotic relationship within the human, spiritual, and natural realms. Inspired by natural elements native to the Philippines and the Babaylan (pre colonial Filipino shamans and spiritual leaders), I seek to discuss the fragmentation of Filipino identity due to the American diaspora and the pressures of modernity and colonialism. I explore my personal family history and themes of gender identity, spiritual beliefs, and colonial trauma through mythological motifs.