第三文化 – Third Culture

Moving across the Pacific, growing up in a multicultural household with a Japanese mother and white American father, my life has been pulled in two directions. A child who has a different cultural upbringing than either parent is best described as a third culture kid. This experience does not fit the mold of the traditional American family depicted in American media and advertising. 第三文化 – Third Culture explores moments of childhood that connect Japanese heritage and the distinctive experience of a multicultural upbringing. 

These paintings incorporate elements of collage, inspired by eroding movie posters in New York City. Passing by construction zones and subway walls we see bright, eye-catching imagery plastered on the wall, only to be worn down over time and eventually replaced when a new season, blockbuster or product is released. Advertisements and billboards are weathered and tagged with graffiti, engaging with the public, building the cultural landscape for the eyes of busy commuters and passersby. 

Personal identity and media consumption are an integral part of the modern American experience reflected in advertisements that find their way into every corner of the urban public sphere. Like the advertising campaigns it is based on, the work here is loud, densely saturated with color, patterns and layered imagery. Third Culture adopts these eye-catching elements and visual styles. This series gives representation to those with culturally blended childhood memories, giving a public spotlight into the world of a Third Culture kid.