This exhibition is a dissection of what I believe are the three developmental stages of young adulthood. It is a walkthrough of the evolution I noticed in both my peers and myself during my time in college. I invite you to walk through them and reflect on your own development as an adult.
 I have coined the First Stage, “Loss of an Idealized Reality.” In many coming-of-age stories, this part of one's personal development is usually called a ‘loss of innocence, ’ yet I believe that referring to it that way undermines the knowledge that is gained at this time. This stage features blunt visual representations of various sociopolitical issues in the United States. As a first-generation American, I believe it is imperative to place high expectations and standards upon the country you live in. I do not want to be complacent about the quality of living in the place my parents left everything for.
The less poetic - yet accurate - name for Stage Two is “Nostalgia Bait”. After being thrust into ‘adult’ responsibilities and problems at whatever age that might be (older for the more fortunate of us), it is normal to cling to whatever bits of our childhoods we can find comfort in. After a hard week of classes and work, my peers and I would reminisce about our favorite console games, cartoons, playground activities, and stuffed animals. As comforting as it may be to cling to these memories and feelings, it is easy to get stuck in that comfort. I myself spent many paychecks on stuffed animals and collectible figurines, trying to spark the same feeling you get when you receive one as a child. However, it is never the same, always slightly dulled, always wearing off too quickly. The pieces in this stage are mostly interactive and meant to invoke a childlike curiosity. I welcome the audience to play with the pieces. However, despite their resemblance to toys, they have dull colors and sharp edges that aren’t suitable for children.
Stage Three is not as quaintly named as the other stages. It is composed of a singular site-specific sculpture, custom-made for this gallery. I once read that most human discomfort comes from the various ways one might lack agency over one's own life. Whether it be your favorite breakfast item being out of stock on the way to work, or a chronic pain that has restricted the range of motion you previously had. Throwing a tantrum when things don’t go your way is not effective anymore. Instead, you must settle, adapt, or fight the circumstances presented to you. I wish this were something you learned once and never had to learn again, but as you likely know from experience, it is a continuous lesson. For this piece, I invite you to add or cut a thread from the wall, essentially ‘huting’ or ‘healing’ the sculpture. The sculpture is altered by your influence, but it will nonetheless withstand.