This self portrait is adorned with jewelry I created to represent the vital influences in "hayete"- my life. Jewelry has been apart of my life since I was a baby, as it hold cultural significance in Lebanese traditions. When I began creating my own jewelry, I wanted to create things to hold close to me, and whether it be a childhood memory at the beach in Lebanon or a cameo of my mom, each piece is personal. This portrait is one of five in a collection of works, with each one representing an important piece of my identity; this one being dedicated to Lebanon. By creating jewelry for my portraits to wear, I am able to make each portrait come to life, as I am not truly myself without my jewelry, and I wanted viewers to get to know me through this portrait.
