Kahirapan (Poverty)

This art piece was inspired from my last visit to the Philippines, a place where there is more than what meets the eye. At first glance, this archipelago may look like a tropical getaway, complete with sandy beaches, large malls, and beautiful tourist spots. What people do not know is the extreme poverty that lies less than a mile from these destinations. People live off of money from collecting recyclables, begging, and even resorting to crime. Poverty victimizes even the most innocent children. It broke my heart seeing kids that are around my little sisters age, six, trying to make a living instead of getting an education at school. It made me stop and think just how fortunate we are here in America to have access to education, and it disappoints me to see many of my peers taking the golden opportunity for granted. By creating this are piece, I wanted to create an awareness of extreme poverty and how it is still prevalent in the world today. It is also to remind others that we are very fortunate, and that we should be grateful for what we have.

The art piece displays two brothers clutching each other. They rest on each other, and depend on each other's body for balance. Though it may seem that they have nothing, they actually have each other. They rest on a cardboard box on a set of stairs while they wait for donations. The milk bottle symbolizes the life force left in the younger child, and that it's running out. It's the only baby formula they have left. The sign that displays “will work for food” symbolizes hope they have for a better future.