Artwork Size

34.5 × 124 cm / 14 × 49 inches

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Artwork Medium

Acrylic Painting, Silkscreen Printing, Metallic Foils and Fabric Applique on Linen Canvas

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Artwork Description

“Where do you come from?” is a question I hear often in Singapore—sometimes from taxi drivers, sometimes from curious strangers—and it’s a question I frequently ask myself. As a Caucasian South African with European ancestry, I was born in South Africa, yet never felt entirely African. After living in Singapore for more than half my life, I sometimes navigate a quiet sense of displacement, as though I exist between several cultural identities without fully belonging to any single one.

This artwork grew from that ongoing journey of searching for place and belonging. When I trace these questions inward, I find grounding not in a specific country, but in a spiritual sense of home. This connects directly to the theme of Between Realms: my assurance and sense of belonging are not tied to geography alone, but to something deeper—something beyond the physical realm.

The symbols within the artwork weave together layers of identity and heritage. The small bees reference my name, Deborah, which means “busy bee” and carries a biblical origin that speaks to my spiritual roots. The hexagonal forms echo honeycombs—structures that are remarkably strong, resilient, and intricately ordered. I’ve also sewn in pieces of Scottish tartan from the McKellar clan, acknowledging my ancestral lineage and the cultural threads that shape who I am.

Together, these elements form a visual map of identity—one that spans continents, histories, and spiritual realms—articulating a sense of belonging that is both complex and deeply felt.

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作品描述

“您来自哪个国家？” 这是我在新加坡常被问起的问题——问者有时是德士司机，有时是好奇的陌生人——而这同样也是我常问自己的问题。作为一名拥有欧洲血统的南非白人，我出生在南非，却从未完全觉得自己是“非洲” 人。在新加坡生活超过半生后的我，有时仍有一种漂泊感，仿佛自己存在于多重文化身份之中，却无法完全归属于任何单一的身份。

这件作品源自我这段不断追索归属与安身之所的旅程。当我把这些问题向内深掘，我发现那让我扎根的并非是某个特定的国家，而是一种属灵的归属感。这也与《界域之间》（Between Realms）的主题直接呼应：我确信我的归属感，不只取决于地理位置，而是指向更深邃、超越物质世界的领域。

作品中的象征元素交织着身份与血脉的多重纹理。小蜜蜂取自我的名字“Deborah” 意为 “忙碌的蜜蜂” 。作品中六边形的结构呼应蜂巢——一种坚韧、稳固、井然有序的奇妙形态。” Deborah” 这名字也有圣经渊源，提示着我属灵的根源。我同时将苏格兰麦凯勒（McKellar）氏族的传统格子纹布料缝入其间，以此认同我的祖源与塑造今日之我的文化脉络。

这些元素构建了一幅身份视觉地图——它跨越大陆、历史与属灵界域，呈现出一种复杂却具有深切的归属感。

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Artwork Viewing

Currently at Whitestone Gallery Singapore.
For enquiries, email Deborah here or Whitestone Gallery for more information..

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