Identity Crisis

“What are you?”

It’s a question many people of mixed race ancestry are familiar with. Giving a breakdown of the biological bloodlines, cultural influences, family histories, physical features and explanations of post-colonialism can take too long to explain. Moreover, many of us don’t want to reduce the sum total of our existence to a mere fraction or percentage. Even when we try, “I’m half…” or “part…” the responses from others can range from “you don’t look ….”, or “I can see it in your (insert physical feature: eyes, nose, hair, etc.)”.

For the record, I am a product of miscegenation. I am Maori (my tribe or Iwi is Waikato, tribal affiliation is Ngaati Taghina, Tainui A Whiro), and Pakeha (of white or European descent New Zealander), raised in Melbourne. I am a fusion, halfcaste, half-blood, hapa, and in-betweener. I am regularly mistaken for Spanish, Greek, Sri-Lankan, Koorie, Hawaiian, and Indian to name a few. If I choose to identify as Maori, I often get the response, “But you’re “white-as”, or “you must be half/a quarter…”

This project is influenced by my experience as a woman of colour. It attempts to visually explore some of the physical descriptors of the coloured body, especially those used to describe skin colour. Phrases such as olive-skinned, honey coloured and coffee coloured skin are presented literally; a mask is covered with olives, honey and coffee beans. It is intended to playfully examine the limitations and absurdities of some of these forms of classification.