Crossroads of Arrival

This piece of art was inspired by the layered identities and experiences of refugees who have made San Diego their home. It began with a simple thought: “How do we acknowledge and celebrate the multidimensional backgrounds of San Diego.” For the past couple of years, San Diego has been my home for college, and during that time, I always felt that our city sits at a natural meeting point—geographically, culturally, and socially. Every day, one can walk down a street and hear different languages or smell the diverse cuisine from the local restaurants. I wanted to represent the idea that people who arrive here are not just starting over; they are bringing their centuries of tradition, family stories, artistic expression, and new perspectives that get encapsulated into our collective landscape. 

In Crossroads of Arrival, I have arranged silhouettes of refugee figures against notable San Diego landmarks. Within these silhouettes, I bedded patterns, textiles, and architecture inspired by a variety of cultural traditions. My hope is that these motifs show how each newcomer’s heritage doesn’t disappear into the background, but rather enriches what it has become a part of. The warm pastel hues, the presence of a dove, and the rays of light are all ways I tried to convey a welcoming environment—something both hopeful and reassuring. 

The process of creating this piece was organic. I started off by plotting down ideas, and I researched patterns and motifs from different regions to go with the ideas. I started off with the skyline, making it seem gentle and soft—suggesting a “new day’s calm promise.” Then I integrated the silhouettes and embedded various patterns, blending them together so that they seem woven into the scene. In the end, I wanted the artwork to feel like a quiet conversation between place and people—an ongoing story of resilience, adaptation, and a common humanity. 

refugee identity art San Diego