ANISHA SAXENA

The bookcase and the objects displayed in it represent my life story, my journey and experiences as an immigrant. The duality and perpetual state of change that shape immigrant experience, marked by simultaneous gain and loss.  

 

The books, each carefully picked represent my education that enabled me to migrate and secure an academic position in the United States, and the deep affection I developed for the libraries and the countless hours I spent within their quiet spaces. The books also represent my present life-my work in teaching and research.   

 

The other objects framed by the bookcase represent my roots—my past and my present intertwined, the memories and materials lost and shared.  

 

The photographs of my father, who died young and unexpectedly, embody my sorrow and the quiet guilt of not being able to share y immigrant “success” with him. The other photographs display my childhood in India, and life in the United States.   

 

The red silk stole, repurposed from my mother-in-law’s wedding saree, symbolizes the weddings and family milestones I have missed while living abroad. Its red also echoes the colors of SUNY Cortland, tying my personal sacrifices to my present academic identity.  

 

The spices placed on the wooden handheld mirror, with the missing face are symbols of the memories, objects, and materials I have carried with me and tried to recreate in my new home, yet they always lack the authenticity of the home I left behind. 

 

 

What is the significance of this piece for you or your family?  

 

The piece is a shrine to my roots- past and present.  

 

 

How did you (and or your family) move to the U.S.?  

 

 

I moved to the U.S with my husband and son on a dependent visa. Over time, I secured a position in academia and eventually obtained United State citizenship. I recognize the privilege embedded in my immigrant journey and understand that not all migrant experiences unfold in the same way. 

 

 

Why did you move to the U.S.?  

 

 

To seek better opportunities for myself and my son.  

 

 

What does it mean for you to share these stories with the community here at Cortland (and beyond)?  

 

Sharing my story through this installation makes me feel vulnerable, yet in that vulnerability I also find courage. By telling it, I am expressing trust in my colleagues and in the community around me.