Invisible Asians

Mixed-media / 14.8×10.5cm / 2023

This project grew from my experience of living as a foreigner in the UK and noticing the quieter, less visible ways that Asians can be treated differently. Microaggressions—small, often unintentional acts—can accumulate over time, leaving subtle but lasting marks.

To explore this, I collected Japanese ID photos of various sizes, from passport-style to smaller identification portraits. Using an electric sander, I gently abraded the surface of each photograph, gradually fading the facial features.

This act of removal mirrors the way such experiences can erode one’s sense of presence, making the invisible nature of these interactions visible through the work.