As powerful symbols of national identity and sovereignity, flags hoisted up on a row and of equal height symbolizes global unity and equality.
Produced in RISD Grad Studio I, this project starts abstracts these familiar icons, layout and color, to create a feeling of collective harmony.
– Concept –
Art Direction – Documentation –
Studio Photography –
Digital Retouch I imagined the 2024 Paris Olympics—a global stage for unity and equality. Yet, even in this grand procession, the gap between nations is undeniable. That contrast hit home when I arrived at a world-renowned art school, only to be met with the financial barriers that come with being from a developing country—where even currency exchange is a limitation.
The Philippines is often praised for its resourcefulness, but it’s a skill born out of necessity. While wealthier nations push the boundaries of innovation, many in the global south are left repurposing what others discard—creativity shaped not by abundance, but by survival.
World fairs aren’t a level playing field. While some nations showcase cutting-edge innovation, others excel in labor—the unseen, backbreaking work that fuels these spectacles. Many of these workers are immigrants from the Global South. We marvel at the Olympics, the grandeur, the agencies behind the spectacle—but rarely do we see or hear about the hands that build the stage. ASSISTANCE Faye 🇵🇭 Yuki 🇯🇵 Heidi 🇮🇩 GUIDANCE from Bethany Johns, Ramon Tejada