In accordance with the fulfillment of my Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Guam, I showcased in "Convalescence," the senior exhibition of 2022, alongside my graduating class. "Convalescence" was hosted by the ISLA Center for the Arts between May 14 and June 30, 2022.

This series of prints is inspired by my and other’s experiences throughout the island-wide Stay-At-Home order (from March 20, 2020 to the present). Though this was and is a time of great tragedy, political upheaval/polarization, uncertainty and anxiety with lasting repercussions — it was also a time of reflection. A well- known proverb states: “The Japanese say you have three faces. The first face, you show to the world. The second face, you show to your close friends, and your family. The third face, you never show anyone.” Quarantine gave many of us the chance to become intimate with that third face. Abruptly finding ourselves with more free-time than we knew what to do with and free from the expectations of others, we each learned a lot about ourselves.

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Aside from finding various ways to fill time and entertain myself in isolation, introspection became my main hobby. I engaged in self-interrogation, carefully observed and analyzed my and other’s reactions to a global pandemic. I found that not being required to ‘perform’ under the often scrutinizing gaze of society, we instead performed for ourselves. During this time friends expressed wanting to explore clothing or hairstyles out of their comfort-zone or considered non-traditional to their gender identity. Clothes and hairstyles that they would otherwise be caught dead wearing before their families. Many were afforded the time and space to question their sexuality. While for still many others, close confinement with relatives, roommates and the like, contrastingly caused the suppression of their self-expression because of others’ bigoted beliefs or abuse. Either way, the pandemic has shed light on our true selves and that of others.

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Soon after quarantine I found that many people came back more fashionable and less caring of how others looked at them yet eager to interact face-to-face with their peers once more as more confident individual — whether or not they realized they were. I too found myself more comfortable and confident with who I am. Are you?

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During this period I hand-pressed my prints since I had no access to an art studio. I found this to be a mediative process, albeit one that took more time, but also one that I came to prefer. For this series I created my compositions with handmade collages, sourcing my images from old fashion magazines and books of botanical illustrations that I’ve collected over the years. Each piece is a unique color combination representing each individual’s inherent uniqueness in personality and content of character. Each print set depicts a different ‘stage’ of quarantine, if you will, reflecting the various moods that one continually cycles through. Some are more playful than others, self-assured even. While the others exude anxiousness, drifting attention. When you notice the patterns in these pieces I hope you see patterns in your own experience of quarantine as well.