My Solo Senior

Thesis Exhibition

Mula sa Aking Pananaw

(From My Perspective)

In 2006, my family bought a simple camcorder when we immigrated from the Philippines to America, carrying with it our hopes for a better life, for opportunity, and for a future we had only dreamed of. That camcorder became more than just a tool. It became a time capsule, capturing the quiet moments of our new beginning: birthdays, weddings, and spontaneous afternoons spent laughing together. We didn’t realize then how these small, fleeting memories would become the foundation of our story, a thread tying us back to our roots. Every year, without fail, we would gather around the TV during the holidays to watch those old videos. It was our way of remembering where we came from, of honoring the journey that brought us here, and of celebrating how much we had grown. Now, nearly two decades later, I find myself at a similar crossroads. For my senior thesis project, I’m capturing the small, often overlooked moments of my own life this year. Those quiet instances that, when pieced together, tell a story of growth and change. This project isn’t just about documenting my present; it’s a way to pause and reflect on how far I’ve come, to trace the steps that led me to this final year of college. Like the tapes my family watched every holiday, this work serves as a personal tribute to the journey, the milestones, the memories, and the people who have shaped me.

Where It All Began

In the background of the exhibition, a projected film made from my family's old camcorder footage plays alongside my paintings. By layering these moving images with my static works, I emphasize the act of remembering. Not just through still frames but through the motion of time itself. The projection serves as both a personal homage to my family and an invitation for viewers to reflect on their own histories, memories, and the moments that shape their identities. Through this work, I aim to preserve these fleeting moments before they slip away, much like the camcorder videos that shaped my understanding of memory, growth, and belonging from my perspective.

A collage of black and white photographs on a wall with people posing and groups, topped with a painted scene of a person lying in grass holding hands with a person standing. The scene includes small glowing yellow balls scattered on the grass, creating a dreamy atmosphere.
Colorful mural featuring two women, one with glasses and red hair and the other with brown hair, reading a photo album titled 'Our Memories' while lying in bed covered with a green and yellow checkered blanket. The background is decorated with photographs, fairy lights, and cartoonish characters.

At the heart of this project are four paintings that act as a bridge between past and present, weaving together personal history and present-day reflections. Inspired by the collage and painting techniques of Njideka Akunyili Crosby, I layer collage, acrylic paint, colored pencils, and posca markers to mirror the way memory is fragmented yet deeply connected. The first painting depicts my present-day self reflecting with my younger self under a pillow fort, a space of childhood comfort and introspection. Each subsequent piece continues this exploration, tying together imagery from different time periods in my past with the evolving emotions and spaces of my current life.

An artwork depicting two girls, one with long black hair and one with brown hair, sitting on the floor in front of a colorful mural. The girl with black hair is writing on a piece of paper, while the girl with brown hair is painting a tree with green and yellow leaves. The mural background includes numerous black and white photos and orange butterflies.
Artwork depicting a woman comforting a crying girl, with a collage of black-and-white photographs of groups of people in the background.
Watercolor illustration of a stray cat sleeping outdoors under a tree with green leaves. The cat is curled up on the ground next to a tree trunk, with written note mentioning it was painted on October 3, 2024, and describing the cat as a stray that usually sleeps outside a dorm building.
Colorful watercolor illustration of a table filled with sushi, sashimi, and various seafood. The table has wrapped rice balls, crab, shrimp, cucumber, and fish, with a yellow background.
Watercolor illustration of an indoor space by a large arched window with a garden view, showing potted plants, clutter, and a note about a friend's window.
Line drawing of a cozy living room with a brick fireplace, a chest of drawers, a large wall-mounted TV, potted plants, and various decorative items on shelves and mantel, along with a bed or couch with blankets and pillows.
Watercolor painting of a person sitting on a stone sculpture outdoors surrounded by autumn leaves and flowering bushes, with a tree with yellow foliage in the background. The scene appears peaceful and sunny, with a handwritten note and date at the bottom.
Watercolor illustration of a bright living room with large windows, blue and gray armchairs, a brown sofa with pillows, potted plants, and a dining area in the background, dated November 2, 2024.

Alongside these paintings, I have created 100 sketches, a different form of documentation that captures my present moment in real time. These sketches serve as an immediate, unfiltered record of my senior year, quick, fleeting impressions of daily life that contrast with the layered, reflective nature of my paintings.

Watercolor and ink portrait of a woman with blonde hair, wearing a black jacket and a necklace with red gemstones, with a pink and purple watercolor background. A handwritten note in the bottom right corner reads, 'October 13, 2024. Visited my best friend, Sara, in Neenahs as an early birthday gift.'
A watercolor illustration of a young woman with dark hair eating ramen at a restaurant. She is smiling with her eyes closed, wearing a blue hoodie with white lettering. There are two glasses of drinks in front of her, one with ice and lemon, and a small bunch of lime slices on the table. The illustration includes the date November 9, 2024, and a handwritten note about the pin and the meal.
A watercolor illustration of a smiling woman with long dark hair, wearing a navy blue beanie and a black jacket, standing outdoors in a snowy winter scene with a streetlamp in the background. Snowflakes are falling, and the scene is labeled "Dec. 2, 2024" with a handwritten note "The first snow of the winter!".
Line drawing of a person with short hair sitting on a couch near a table with potted plants, a water bottle, and a phone.

Gallery Photos

  • A woman smiling at an art gallery with a collage of photographs on the wall behind her.
  • Art gallery display with drawings, sketches, and paintings hanging from a wire, with a projection of leaves on a wall and a bench in the foreground.
  • Art exhibition gallery with drawings and paintings hanging on a string with clothespins, and some artworks and a video projection on the wall.
  • An art gallery featuring two paintings on a white wall and a large screen projecting an image of a person in a red outfit outdoors.
  • Open books, notebooks, and sketches displayed on a white tabletop in a well-lit room.
  • A diverse group of people taking a selfie together, with a woman holding a bouquet of flowers in the center, and a large screen showing an image of seated children in the background.