These portraits feature my siblings and I with our parents hands. What appears to be protective restricting our senses changes over time to be caring. My family moved for the first time in 2019 from Ohio to Kansas. I was 15, and my brothers were 11 and 9. It was incredibly difficult for all of us, and the upcoming COVID-19 shutdown didn’t help us make friends. I resented my parents for making us leave and felt useless in helping my brothers explore this new part of their lives. The more time we spent together the less that seemed to matter. What once felt like malicious hands covering our key senses, making it impossible for us to overcome our challenge,  now feel more caring. They helped push us toward each other, to realize we needed each other, especially when we had no one else. 

     This series is inspired by the three wise monkeys in a Japanese proverbial principle “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”. I used this as a reminder to avoid negativity in my relationship with my family and not to dwell on the small issues we have.  “See No Evil” represents not focusing on the flaws of my family and instead choosing forgiveness and understanding. “Hear No Evil” encourages listening to each other without judgment.  “Speak No Evil” promotes kindness and constructive communication instead of insults and negative speech.

     Eventually, we began to rely on each other and finally felt like we were in an environment we could thrive, instead of one we were stuck in. While moving was one of the most difficult things I have ever experienced, I think it was one of the best things that has happened to me and my relationship with my family.