My work reveals identity, visibility, and self perception. Each of the twelve portraits in this series shows a person with miniature versions of themselves that has been shot digitally and edited in Photoshop. The title for this project comes from my favorite artist Yeat. His song STFU is unapologetic and filled with confidence, pride and arrogance. This is the exact energy I aim to bring all while telling the Trump administration and their agenda to STFU.

The portraits are divided into three groups. Each with a background of red, white and blue, and each frame has duplicate figures ‘minis’. When viewed as a whole, this bold color scheme alludes to the American flag, a representation that is both deeply contradictory and frequently linked to freedom and unity. This color palette serves as a framework for analyzing who is given space, visibility, and power within American social constructs. In the context of growing racial tensions, resurgence of whitewashing in the media and the racist agenda that continues to grow under the Trump administration and is amplified through ICE.

This project's purpose is to break the American social norms and stereotypes we all face. The Minis are an exemplification of courage and visibility. Being duplicated calls for being seen more and calling attention to the social system that is built around us that tries to oppress us. By having a diverse group in this project it allows us to see the people around us and how their confidence fuels the way we face the adversities tethered to us from these social constructs. Through all the hardships we face we still show resiliency.

There are two individuals in the project who are white. This was done intentionally to create the element of them being the minorities within the project. Using a red background for the white male is to view the stigma that white men are Republicans. Using the blue background for the white woman is alluding to the white woman savior stigma.

The main reason I point these out is because we all are humans who function around an imaginary system that is built solely to oppress. Its purpose is to point fingers and create villains within our own communities when in actuality it is those who push the agenda of this system who are the real monsters. We all have tethered stigmas/stereotypes attached to us.

Not giving in to the fibers of the world that try to contain us by loudly being yourself with pride, confidence and arrogance is how we take charge.