First Impression

The idea of an artist book seemed too straightforward to define who I am. Identity is layered, textured, and found in unexpected places, like a box my grandmother gave me full of years of treasured mementos.

I created First Impression as a 3D fingerprint made from upcycled textiles and discarded boxes. A cardboard box isn’t just recyclable; it’s a vessel for memories, history, and overlooked potential, holding the fragments that shape who we are.

I layered parts of my story into each ridge—a plane ticket from my trip to China, stamps from letters I’ll never throw away, and scraps with textures only I can trace into memory. Splattered colours like red and white show how identity feels rigid and unpredictable, like a fingerprint. As a mark, it’s unique but made from easily disregarded bumps and patterns.

This piece is how I see myself, shaped by layers of family, culture, and sustainability—piecing together parts of my story from what would otherwise be forgotten.