Ina Maria Cahiles

“I wanted my artwork to portray great emotions such as isolation, loneliness, and frustration. I moved from my homeland, the Philippines, to New Zealand in April 2018, and adjusting was really hard. Being away from people I love and care about and being in a country that was unfamiliar to me made me feel isolated and alone. I did not know anyone and did not have friends when I started school. It was like starting a new life. During recess and lunch, I would sit quietly in the corner, and no one really talked to me. It was like I was there, except I wasn’t. Talking to myself in the mirror and pretending to have a talk show with myself was one way to cope with my loneliness."