No Way Out | 2026

Artwork Statement

When I arrived in the United States, I had to learn more than a new language. I had to learn how to behave, what to say, when to remain silent, and how to make myself acceptable.

In No Way Out, I use the familiar structure of a Scrabble game to reflect on that experience. Words such as PROCESS, SILENCE, ARRIVE, ALLOWED, ADAPT, and OBEY become part of a game in which acceptance depends on learning the rules.

The game is built on torn, worn cardboard, a material that carries its own history of use and deterioration. Alongside it, a fictional cleaning product called WHITEWASH offers instructions for removing differences until the surface appears uniform.

For years, I believed that adapting meant moving forward. I learned to correct myself, to measure my words, and to recognize what was expected of me before anyone had to explain it.

No Way Out reflects on what happens when the effort to belong becomes a habit of changing oneself, and when following the rules no longer guarantees a sense of belonging.