on the border of USA

The subject of my image is on the border of USA. I was inspired by Frida Kahlo especially her self portrait on the border of Mexico. So, I decided to mimic her ideas in terms of being on the border between my home country Egypt and USA like she was standing between Mexico and USA. I was inspired by her work when she drew the organs like her pelvis floating. So, I decided to design my project in the same form. I put my picture in the middle of the sheet facing USA leaving behind my home country Egypt represented by the Pyramids which are famous landmark of it, but when I left Egypt where my family, my friends, my memories and my lovers reside, I left part of me which is my heart and came here in USA without it. I am trying to convince myself that I folded a black page from my life book and started a new life, so I shaded the previous life with dark color on the left side.

   I used liberty statue to represent the USA on the right side to which I am facing donating the freedom of this country. My brain is out of me because my head was loaded with many things which I am doing right now like education, career, success, family, ect. On the right side, there are many obstacles facing me represented by the black spikes. I see that time is very important thing for me in this part of my life, so I decided to put clock in front of me to remind me with its existence. Within myself, I am keeping my religion represented in a cross. I feel that this is the only thing that I am still holding inside my soul.  I used paintings, pictures and words to address my identity. I painted the dark spikes and I cut the pictures and glued them. The same thing for the words.

   I see that this project is representing me because it summarizes who I am; my nationality, my interests, my previous life and my current life. Even my future is represented by the fears of impediments that would prevent me from reaching my goal. Everyone has a healthy fear from something. It is considered healthy because it pushes us to do our best to overcome our fear. Here I have a healthy fear of failure may be represented by time which pushes me to go on and never give up.