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Introduction
As society continues to evolve and develop into an increasingly diverse, complex world, intersections between cultures and identity emerge and reveal their impact on individuals. This specific project focuses on my personal experience as an Asian American, learning the balance between my ethnic and American identity.
Inspiration for this decision comes from artists like Elianne Monin and Yun Hee Lee, both who work with clay sculpting mediums in their pieces. Elianne Monin features a lot of natural elements in her sculptures, which inspired me to use a flower, especially as a symbol of growth. Yun Hee Lee uses a lot of Korean elements in her artwork as representation of her Korean heritage, which inspired me to use the Mugunghwa specifically as the symbol.
Literature Review
I was first introduced to the idea of developing my identity in my Asian American Psychology class, where I learned about the Racial Identity Development Theory. The theory is composed of four stages; conformity, dissonance, immersion/resistance, and internalization (Phinney, 1989). These four stages are going to be reflected in the final project through the form of flowers, specifically the Korean national flower, the Mugunghwa, as an ode to my Korean identity.
Methods
For this project, I primarily used literature review as a way to gain information on the subject of ethnic identity as well as which methods would be best for synthesizing my project. One of my literature reviews discussed the use of clay and how it becomes a symbol of healing and strength in art therapy, which I felt was especially meaningful not only to me, but also in the context of developing my identity. For this reason, I chose clay sculpting as a second medium to explore within my project, second to collaging, which was a more familiar, comfortable medium I already had experience with.
Audience & Impact
While my project primarily focuses on the experiences of Asian Americans, the message this art conveys can be applicable to any individual who has been an ethnic minority trying to find their identity within a larger, dominant culture. This racial identity development theory has been relatable to my experience with developing my identity as a Korean American. Because of that, I feel as though it was comforting and enlightening to learn that my process with my identity is not an isolated experience, which I hope to share with others who struggle with that balance between their ethnic and American identity.
References
Gartner, M., Kiang, L. & Supple, A. Prospective Links Between Ethnic Socialization, Ethnic and American Identity, and Well-Being Among Asian-American Adolescents. J Youth Adolescence 43, 1715–1727 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-013-0044-0
Haviland-Jones, J., Rosario, H. H., Wilson, P., & McGuire, T. R. (2005). An Environmental Approach to Positive Emotion: Flowers. Evolutionary Psychology, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1177/147470490500300109
Kim, H. Community and art: creative education fostering resilience through art. Asia Pacific Educ. Rev. 16, 193–201 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-015-9371-z
Kohrt, B., Ottman, K., Panter-Brick, C., Konner, M., & Patel, V. (2020)
Why we heal: The evolution of psychological healing and implications for global mental health, Clinical Psychology Review, Volume 82, 101920, ISSN 0272-7358, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2020.101920.
Masi, M. P. (2003). Bach flower therapy in the treatment of chronic major depression. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 9, 112–112.
Phinney, J. S. (1989). Stages of Ethnic Identity Development in Minority Group Adolescents. The Journal of Early Adolescence, 9(1–2), 34–49. https://doi.org/10.1177/0272431689091004
Sherwood, P. (2004). The Healing Art of Clay Therapy. Australian Council for Education Research.
Swartz, M. K. (2018). The power of positive psychology. Journal of Pediatric Health Care : Official Publication of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates & Practitioners, 32(6), 533–533. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedhc.2018.09.001
Wilkinson, R. A., & Chilton, G. (2013). Positive art therapy: linking positive psychology to art therapy theory, practice, and research. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 30(1), 4–11.
Yeh, C. J., & Huang, K. (1996). The collectivistic nature of ethnic identity development among asian-american college students. Adolescence, 31(123), 645-61. Retrieved from https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/collectivistic-nature-ethnic-identity-development/docview/195937488/se-2
Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge my faculty advisor, Heather, for not only being supportive in my work, but also challenging me to think and develop my ideas beyond what I had originally considered. I would also like to acknowledge my peers for offering critiques and comments about my project in class, which helped me edit and develop my project further.
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