Breaking Borders

Author/Artist Name

Savannah LeachFollow
Savannah Paige LeachFollow

Files

Academic Level at Time of Creation

Senior

Date of Creation

Spring 5-6-2024

Artist Statement

My exhibition, Breaking Borders, explores identity, belonging, and the complexities of adoption through various artworks. As a Korean adoptee, I seek to share my struggles and offer diverse perspectives that challenge stereotypes in the adoptee community. I hope to connect with others and confront misconceptions about adoption through showcasing my personal stories.

My collection of illustrations reflects my personal journey as a Korean adoptee through an abstract lens. I opted for a minimalistic illustration style to highlight the themes rather than the aesthetics. I developed a set of posters that resemble those used to promote social awareness. These reinforce the two informative booklets by being reminiscent of informational posters even while only posing questions. The wall of adoptees seeking to reconnect with their families aims to replicate the inexpensive and overlooked style of missing person flyers. This element unites the exhibit by mimicking the desire to draw attention and the desperation that adoptees often feel while trying to reconnect with their loved ones. The exhibition's use of South Korea's national colors, red and blue, serves as an eye-catching focal point that represents the country's heritage.

As a Korean adoptee, I draw inspiration from fellow adoptees like Meg O'Shea and Megan Rye. Their work, which explores the complex aspects of adoption and identity, has inspired me to create flyers and collages that convey a similar sense of longing and search for self. Through my writing and exhibitions, I hope to provide a platform for the adoptee community to share their voices and gain a deeper understanding of their inner selves. Despite the challenges, I am determined to forge my own unique identity and resist being reduced to a mere number in the Korean adoption system.

“Your openness to embrace my experience embodies empathy, understanding, and a shared humanity. Your engagement as a viewer affirms the importance of each word, emotion, and revelation in these pages. Together, we can transcend barriers of distance and difference, uniting in the universal pursuit of belonging.”

Advisor/Mentor

Professor Bryant, Professor Cook, Professor Gamble, Professor Martin

Description

My exhibition, Breaking Borders, explores identity, belonging, and the complexities of adoption through various artworks. As a Korean adoptee, I seek to share my struggles and offer diverse perspectives that challenge stereotypes in the adoptee community. I hope to connect with others and confront misconceptions about adoption through showcasing my personal stories.

My illustration collection reflects my journey as a Korean adoptee through an abstract lens. Their are two in landscape 36" x 26" and one in portrait that is 24" x 36". I opted for a minimalistic illustration style to highlight the themes rather than the aesthetics. I developed a set of posters that resemble those used to promote social awareness. The set of four poster our in 24" x 36" using Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. These reinforce the two informative booklets by being reminiscent of informational posters even while only posing questions. The smaller booket called BREAKING Borders A Korean adoptee: Memoir is 5" x 8" was created using Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. The larger book called Lost & Found The History of Korean adoption is 12" x 9" was Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign.The wall of adoptees seeking to reconnect with their families aims to replicate the inexpensive and overlooked style of missing-person flyers. These flyer were created with Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator and are letter sized. This element unites the exhibit by mimicking the desire to draw attention and the desperation that adoptees often feel while trying to reconnect with their loved ones. The exhibition's use of South Korea's national colors, red and blue, is an eye-catching focal point representing the country's heritage.

As a Korean adoptee, I draw inspiration from fellow adoptees like Meg O'Shea and Megan Rye. Their work, which explores the complex aspects of adoption and identity, has inspired me to create flyers and collages that convey a similar sense of longing and search for self. Through my writing and exhibitions, I hope to provide a platform for the adoptee community to share their voices and gain a deeper understanding of their inner selves. Despite the challenges, I am determined to forge my own unique identity and resist being reduced to a mere number in the Korean adoption system.

Photo Credit

Savannah Hyo Leach

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Leach, Savannah and Leach, Savannah Paige, "Breaking Borders" (2024). B.F.A. Practicum Exhibition (ART 498). 138.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art498/138