This Land Will Cost You

Baltimore, 2023

“Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Carry Me Accross the Sea”

Baltimore, 2023

Bamboo, Reeds, Nipa Palm, abaca, hemp, jute, Copper

Divinagracia uses a balikbayan box to create a traditional Bahay Kubo, a nipa house that is indigenous to the Philippines. The balikbayan box is a cardboard box full of foreign goods and gifts sent by OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) back to the Philippines for their family and loved ones at home. The balikbayan box symbolizes the spirit of bayanihan or communal unity in Filipino culture. Through “Saan Ka Man Naroroon, Carry Me Across the Sea,” Divinagracia investigates Philippine culture and the ways it shifts forms through the diaspora. A home built on the foundation of community.

A Game of Dreams

Baltimore, 2024

Mixed Media (Wire, concrete, chain, dollar bills, inkjet print on Lustre, ribbons)

3 x 3 x 10 ft

"A Game of Dreams" reimagines the Filipino pabitin, a beloved cultural tradition where participants grasp for hanging treats and prizes. In this piece, the usual assortment of snacks and toys is replaced with items that symbolize my perception of the forces that often motivate immigration. It captures the tension between aspiration and sacrifice in the pursuit of the pervasive American Dream. “A Game of Dreams” builds on my intention to investigate the way Filipino cultural traditions evolve within the diasporic context of immigration, and the challenge of preserving these traditions while adapting to a new environment. The piece transforms the pabitin into a metaphorical playground of fear, security, perceived success, longing, and yearning. The contrast of sweet nostalgia with stark and dangerous realities invites viewers to contemplate the complex intersections of tradition, identity, and survival within the immigrant experience.

Perception and the Allegory of the Sun

Baltimore, 2024

Cyanotype on cotton

40 x 32in