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Clock Work

"Clock Work" examines the relationship between the dying of our environments (coral reefs) and skin color (Melanin) as a device for the passing of time. Coral reefs are found in circumtropical shallow waters along the shores of islands and continents. As the hand circulates clockwise, the series examines tension of climate change, warming temperatures & solar irradiance in response to the bleaching of coral reefs found around the globe. On the other hand, the series undergoes a transformation of hierarchy in response to wealth, classism and social taboos. Each subset of “Clock Work” is titled a singular noun or adjective in response to the colorism found in parts of Africa, Southeast Asia, India, Latin America and the United States. As the clock ticks, the subset is transformed or manifested.

“Blanc” examines how prevalent skin whitening cosmetic products are popular in the Caribbean and parts of Southeast Asia. Four out of ten women surveyed in Jamaica, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines and South Korea used a skin whitening cream, and more than 60 companies globally compete for Asia's estimated $18 billion market.

“Black” references race in America and the major God of Hinduism and Lord Krishna. Both are named after the Sanskrit word for "Black" or "Dark" and both were dark colored. Discrimination based on skin color was most visible in British India, where skin color served as a signal of high status for the foreign British who actively promoted the idea.

“Cream of The Crop” examines the deep-rooted color bias that has ensured in certain professions such as aviation and the film industry were people with light skin are generally preferred.