"No Country for an Immigrant" is a deeply personal piece that explores themes of identity, belonging, and the physical and emotional effects of displacement. The work features my actual passport, crystallized with Borax, transforming it into a sculpture. The crystallization process, while giving the passport a delicate, almost sugary appearance, also imbues it with a sense of fragility and decay. This transformation speaks to the complex relationship that immigrants have with their documentation—an object that is meant to signify identity and belonging but often feels like a cold, impersonal object when faced with the reality of displacement.
The Borax crystals, which are toxic in nature, symbolize the harshness and toxicity that can accompany the immigrant experience. Despite the outward appearance of sweetness, this crystallization represents the false promises of security and belonging often offered by foreign countries. The passport, as a symbol of national identity and freedom of movement, becomes a paradox—both a tool for access and a marker of restriction, emphasizing the tension between hope and alienation.
Through this piece, I confront the harsh realities of being an immigrant—torn between countries, cultures, and identities—while challenging the notion of belonging. "No Country for an Immigrant" asks whether there is truly a place where immigrants can fully find a home, or if they are forever marked by the trauma of displacement.
