Note from the Editor: I grew up as an expat kid in Senegal and Indonesia, but I was born in the Philippines and still carry a Philippine passport. We spent summers in Bacolod City (my mom’s hometown), but I always felt excluded from my Filipina roots, I often felt like an imposter. This was complicated because I was multinational-my father was from Afghanistan. Over the last year, much of my artistic exploration has been centered on the diasporic experience. What does participation in a “home culture” mean? Am I Filipino enough? What does finding your roots mean when there is a clear divide in monetary privilege between my life in the US and my family on the archipelago? In this issue we are featuring two artists who are first generation Americans with Filipino parents. What it means to be a diasporic individual is different for every person and every art practice.
–Nasreen Khan, Art Editor
Latih Kasberg
Latih Kasberg AKA Sweet Tih, was born and raised in Indianapolis, IN, with a diverse cultural background. Their father is American, and their mother is Hanunoo, Mangyan.
@kool_beadz
Tell me a little bit about your artistic practice. What mediums do you create in? How did you start? Who were your teachers/influences? What made you want to learn your craft?
When I was a little girl, I would watch my inang (mom) bead. She would bead while we watched TV, at the library, at the park, and even during breaks at her job. My eldest brother, Eric, also beaded, and I thought his pieces were amazing. He made diamond pattern bracelets and cross necklaces. The cross necklaces blew my 10-year-old mind because I had no idea you could make something like that using beads and fishing line. His work inspired me to learn, and he was the one who taught me the basics of bead weaving.
This month we are featuring artists with Filipino roots. Can you tell us a little bit about your own relationship to your Filipina identity as someone part of the diaspora?
Growing up I knew very little of my Filipino culture. I knew that I was half Filipina but I had no idea what that meant. My inang and amang(father) divorced when I was born. The first nine years of my life I lived with my inang then my amang had custody of me. Amang knew a lot about my Filipino culture but would only tell me a little here and there. I also wasn’t raised around other Filipinos either. So there was a huge disconnect with half of my identity. It wasn’t until my late 20’s I started learning about my Filipina identity.
In what ways do your art and cultural identity intersect and inform one another?
When I create, I am honoring my ancestors and keeping our traditions alive, while also infusing my pieces with contemporary designs that reflect my experiences. This blend of old and new allows me to share my heritage in a way that is both meaningful and accessible to a broader audience, celebrating my Filipina identity while also making it relevant in today’s world.
What are your artistic goals ? This can be anything–new and challenging designs, greater reach and sales. Anything
I would love to be able to provide for my son and I through my beadwork. I also strive to increase my reach allowing more people to appreciate and connect with this beautiful art form. Additionally, I hope to participate in more art shows and markets.One of my personal goals is to be able to take my inang back to the Philippines, as she hasn’t been back in 30 years. Ultimately, my goal is to share my heritage and passion with a broader audience, making a living from my art and fulfilling dreams for myself and my family.
Traditional Filipino beadwork is deeply rooted in our traditions and far surpasses the mass-produced beaded jewelry you might find at stores like Target. Each piece is a testament to our heritage and the stories of our people, crafted with care and imbued with cultural significance.
What question not included in this list would you like to answer?
I would like to answer a question that a passerby at a market asked me indirectly. She asked, “Can’t I just make this myself?” “Yes, you definitely can make it yourself, but do you have the time, dedication, passion, and love that goes into each piece? My beadwork is not just about creating jewelry; it’s about preserving and sharing a rich heritage. Each item is crafted with care. People often don’t realize the time, energy, and purpose behind my work. While I do create simpler pieces to offer a range of price points at markets, each one still embodies a deep cultural significance and artistic devotion that goes far beyond the materials used.”
