The origin of the idea behind my photography comes from an ancient Japanese belief that I've been able to share due to my educational and multicultural background. It has been said that every human has to contend with the fact that, three different faces have been developed within us during our existence. The first face is one that we choose to show to the world therefore, the stern facial expression reveals our outward, strong demeanor towards society in order to conquer hardships. The black shirt that they wear is a symbol of emotions we conceal to come off as strong; as black is a shadow when faced with light, our emotions are shadowed when it is faced with others. The second face is shown to our family and closest friends. I chose to portray the emotion of joy, for the reason that I personally experience happiness when I’m around my family. The last face is believed to be the truest reflection of who we are - our true identity. The last picture shows a fragile being, confused hidden under layers of other faces. This I believe is the reason of life, to find the identity that is hidden under the masks.
By : Laxwinniey Vasudevan
Raise Your Voice: Exploring Youth Identities Entry