Description
This was the first “postcard” in my series Postcards to America, a project that explores the hidden stories of underrepresented communities and critiques systemic issues across the United States. By juxtaposing the idealized imagery of vintage postcards with contemporary and historical realities, this series seeks to peel back the layers of nostalgia to confront the complexities and contradictions of American life.
In each image, I layer the idyllic visuals of vintage postcards—symbols of optimism and unity—with stark and evocative imagery drawn from real events and places. This inaugural piece is a deeply personal and visual response to the death of teenager Michael Brown in 2014, the subsequent acquittal of the police officer who shot him, and the unrest that erupted in Ferguson, Missouri, in the wake of these events.
Missouri’s state slogan, “The Heart of America,” is intended to evoke connection and pride. Yet, in the context of Ferguson and the systemic inequities it exposed, this heart feels fractured, emblematic of a nation grappling with unresolved racial tensions and injustice.
Through this piece and the broader series, my goal is to confront viewers with the realities that often remain hidden behind the glossy veneer of idealized imagery. It serves as a call to reflect, question, and engage with the deeper stories of the places we think we know.
