J  a  e   S  o  n  g

During the corona virus lockdown, one of the popular home activities became solving jigsaw puzzles.  So much so that puzzle making factories were working around the clock to fill demand.  I found it poignant, millions of people unable to connect with each other, connecting these little pieces.  

 

One area in my life I found myself reconnecting to was with my family as I tried to take care of my aging parents.  This brought forth the complicated relationship I have with them, discovering patterns they have that I repeat and emotional wounds that are passed down.

 

Inspired by these emotions and materials around me, I made jigsaw puzzles of my family using the same puzzle pattern in order to mix and match the pieces together.  An algorithm was created to complete the portraits of each just enough to make them distinctly themselves and still have pieces from all the others.  My sister refused to participate, thus the missing pieces.  Instead of leaving her portrait out, I wanted to have missing pieces to represent her.  Just as my parents are a part of me, my sister’s absence is as well.