Artist Statement

The definition of Marginalized People are groups and communities that experience discrimination and exclusion (social, political and economic) because of unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions. I started thinking how an autocratic and racist leader has encouraged discrimination. Our society, more than not, looks for differences in us rather than similarities. Since we are all different, we are all "marginalized" by someone. These observations should be celebrated or at the very least attempt to understand. In my series, Marginalized People, drawn the individuals without color, symbolizing how our preconceived notions of people are seen as black or white. We don't take the time to understand or accept the individual's colorful uniqueness as we do in flowers and nature itself. I think Ram Dass articulated this best.

Robyn Duenow

Ram Dass wrote:
When you go out into the woods, and you look at trees, you see all these different trees. And some of them are bent, and some of them are straight, and some of them are evergreens, and some of them are whatever. And you look at the tree and you allow it. You see why it is the way it is. You sort of understand that it didn't get enough light, and so it turned that way. And you don't get all emotional about it. You just allow it. You appreciate the tree.
The minute you get near humans, you lose all that. And you are constantly saying 'You are too this, or I'm too this.' That judgment mind comes in. And so I practice turning people into trees. Which means appreciating them just the way they are."

(click images to enlarge)