What we carry, 2026
Photography, Edition: 1 of 5
81 cm x 63,5 cm
Artist’s Statement
What we carry reflects on migration, survival, and the burdens that accompany the search for a better life. Inspired by my own experience as an immigrant, the work considers what it means to move through the world carrying both tangible possessions and invisible responsibilities.
The bag serves as a symbol of everything we carry with us: our histories, ambitions, fears, memories, and hopes. While it references the physical act of transporting belongings, it also represents the emotional and psychological weight of building a life, supporting loved ones, and pursuing opportunity in unfamiliar places.
The image speaks to a shared human experience. Although the circumstances of our journeys differ, each of us carries something. Some carry expectations, others loss, responsibility, uncertainty, or aspiration. The work suggests that these burdens are not solely sources of hardship but also evidence of resilience and purpose. Through this portrait, the act of carrying becomes a testament to human determination: a quiet acknowledgment of the weight we bear and the hope that continues to move us forward.
