I nearly went crazy looking for evidence of his secrets. I wanted to find something tangible. But what would I do if I found them? Too uncomfortable to hold, too uncomfortable to face. The book, Tangible Secrets, is meant to burst open when you pick it up, exaggerating the awkwardness of secrets. Printed on vellum paper, the words can be seen from either side of the book like two sides of a secret. Printed words act as clues that don’t make sense unless strung together in a sentence.  

Why Can’t I Make Purple? features the shape of a standard house and explores consequences of societal gender roles.  

We were swallowed by raging waves of desire. 

We want to pray, pray for our spirits, wish the deities to save us all. 

I created this Shrine, a shelter for our souls. Look into it, I hope peace has been brought to you.  

This shrine is our way back home.

Is there a way that we can end the violence? 

Is there a tomorrow that blood will not be spread, and families will not be separated?  

I unsprung the typewriter and let the paper handle loosely in the typewriter writing in free from. i, eye, eyelid is a piece dedicated to the beautiful form of the alphabet and the shapes it creates.  

I’m just trying to be entertaining, man. Poems should make for good TV.

My mother’s family has been at the forefront of my recent work. As their story originates in Afghanistan, it is impossible to find any form of written record. Therefore, my research relies heavily on interviews with family members and a scarce collection of old photographs. As a daughter of immigrants and war refugees, I always felt like I was adrift in this world without an anchor and without a place to call home. In my research of my mother’s family, I have learned more about my roots and my family’s culture. This has allowed me to feel connected to my ancestors and to feel a sense of belonging.

My work has become my own way of creating a written and visual record of the Kazi family. I wish for my work to be a place of healing and desire, and yet also a place to voice my frustrations and heartbreak. My goal has always been to create art from a personal place of emotion and love, and hope that my audience can be step into my perspective of the world for few moments.