Wendy Tran

Identity is a multifaceted aspect of all humans. There are many layers and components that form our identities. These components can be things we share in a group/community and/or can be the very things that make us an “other”. For second-generation children, these layers often collide, creating a unique space of in-betweenness. Through my second-generation lens, I want to examine how identity is fractured and how nostalgia can heal. Pieces of who we are will shift, disappear, and sometimes reappear unexpectedly. I want to mirror the process of identity construction and deconstruction. This multi-media collage project challenges the idea of brokenness by exploring how, even in fragmentation, there is wholeness. Just as the materials in my work can come together to form a unified piece, so can the broken aspects of our identity be integrated into a cohesive whole. The beauty of the second-generation experience lies in the complexity of the ability to hold multiple identities and carry multiple histories while remaining intact. Ultimately, this collection invites viewers to reflect on the tension between fragmentation and unity, between what is inherited and what is chosen, and to consider how we remain whole even in our fragmented selves.