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What This City Tells Me.
I wanted to take some time to appreciate landscape photos I took on my iPhone and turn them into digital art as a way of storing my memories in different cities. Each city has different meanings for me and evokes different emotions, giving birth to many internal voices. Here, alongside my artwork, I will write what each city teaches me without really teaching me.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo is my home - it is where I was born, raised, and will probably bury my bones when my life comes to an end.
But since 2021, when I left this city to attend college in the US, Tokyo started to feel like less home. Whenever I return to Tokyo, I have two-sided feelings. While people, sounds, and the smell of Tokyo remain the same for me, there are always slight, tangible and intangible changes that make me feel like I've never been here before.
Is it because I've changed? Or is it because Tokyo has changed?
I don't know... Maybe it's both.
Tokyo will always be my home, but I sometimes feel a bit like an outsider because I don't live here anymore. Would that ever change if I move back here? Or would that never be the same as before because of how different I've already become?
My unconditional love for Tokyo will never change though. And I hope Tokyo will love me back too - however much I change.
New York City, NY
New York makes me feel so small.
Part of it is because of the scale of buildings and the number of pedestrians. But I think it's also because there is a myriad of personalities, and it almost feels like nobody really cares about what you're up to, be it good or bad.
It's really interesting how New Yorkers are so independent and seem to only mind their own businesses. Is that considered "mature" or is that considered a bit too"cold"?
This question seems to reflect my internal conflict as well.
I've become emotionally independent living abroad without my family nearby, and that's what's pushed me to go out of my way to stand on my feet. But could this independence also make me a cold person? - because I don't want to be...
This is a kind of question that I keep asking myself. How can I have warmth while keeping my independence? Is it too much to ask for?
Boston, MA
coming soon.
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