In Every Fold

Using photography as my medium, as well as a digital form of collage and scanning, I crafted a visual narrative that molds my family’s history with me today, intertwining images from my adoption and my childhood. “In Every Fold” presents an ongoing series of 11.7x16.5 in photos consisting of collages of old photos, overlaid onto parts of myself and distorted through scanning, symbolizing the bond between my family and me, one that goes beyond biological ties. My mother’s story, marked by multiple miscarriages and the enduring wait before embracing adoption, establishes a key background. Following my adoption, she was able to become pregnant with my brother due to the relief from stress-induced hormonal changes. In the beauty of adoption lies a chosen family, seemingly bound by fate above genetics. In my situation it is a realization of fortunate surroundings- being surrounded by caring people- a recognition that sometimes the intentions behind adoption can miss this mark. The story told is not unheard of but it is special and full of odd coincidences leaving me sure that there were pieces of me in my family before I was even born, and there will always be parts of them in me. Through folded family photos, this series aims to spotlight the enduring bond embedded in every crease of my being that has shaped my path within a chosen family, which, in essence, is no different from any other.