Holly Hancock: The Hancocks Black Gallery, 02/21/2022–02/25/2022 Advisors: Binh Danh, Robin Lasser Works in the Exhibit

Artist's Statement

The Hancocks is a not only a form of documentation, but a self-reflection of growing up as a Chinese adoptee. Ever since the One Child Policy was enacted, millions of births have been prevented through either abortion or abandonment. Family is an intimate domestic group of people related to one another by blood bond, sexual mating, or legal ties, yet the questioning of what makes up a family lingers. With an unknown ancestry, born into a set family with contrasting attributes, connection is distant. Self-acceptance starts with acknowledgment for what can't be changed consciously and subconsciously.

The following series of traditional black and white gelatin silver prints, goes against my tendency to dodge family orientated questions. From an orphan in China to receiving an education in America, I can't help but feel that I've skipped a few steps. Being born into a privileged socioeconomic background, puts to question of who I am as an individual. Pursuing two degrees in art and sociology with minimal financial strain, is beyond the American Dream. I grew up with both parents showering me with love and fun filled core memories, alongside a rather characteristic sibling with Down Syndrome and my “twin” who was also adopted from China. My personal strengths and weaknesses often go against the model minority myth, where I may never excel in math. My cultural assimilation tends to fluctuate, where I always felt different, thus may or may not have experienced borderline identity disorder. Regardless, my family will always be there for me no matter how far I stray away from them, thus deserving a spot in my portfolio.