This mixed-media piece dives deep into the layers of identity, because why settle for surface level?

It’s a mash-up of memory, language, and nature, reflecting my personal journey of reconciling the inner and outer me.

My cultural roots shape who I am, but trust me, I rise into new spaces too—like a phoenix with a very strong Wi-Fi connection.

Through contrasts of light and dark, I explore time’s messy passage, both as an artist and as a person, revealing memories that stick around and those that, well, took the express train out of my brain.

The work is a visual tug-of-war, with ink and paint on paper giving a voice to the contrasts within, while the sculptural bits—paper, cardboard, sewing pins, clay, wire, and Japanese fiber paper—bring texture and depth, mirroring the battle between what’s seen and what’s lurking just out of sight.

At the heart of it all? Tikkun Olam, the Jewish concept of repairing the world.

It’s woven into the piece through five languages of my heritage—because, clearly, one language isn’t enough.

In creating and healing my own identity, I explore how art can help mend the world, one broken fragment at a time.

This piece isn’t just about me; it’s about how absence and presence dance together in the creation of self, and how our roots and growth play a part in fixing the world—one messy, transformative step at a time.

RENÉE REY

RENÉE REY