Artist: Soad Kader

Title: Golden Repair

Medium: Unique uv print on wood panel

Dimensions: 16 x 16 X 1.5 in

From the artist's statement: "Golden Repair from my 'Inner Worlds' series is inspired by Kintsugi, translated from Japanese kanji meaning gold + repair, inherit, succeed, continue. The practice of kintsugi, repairing broken vessels by sealing the cracks with lacquer and carefully dusting them with gold powder is an inspiring art form. What if we apply this to ourselves? We too are vessels that experience cracking and breakage and can be repaired to come out stronger and more beautiful.

I am a San Francisco-based interdisciplinary artist with an arts education from the University of California, Davis. Working with both analog and digital methods of photography, collage, painting, and printing I arrived at the one-of-a-kind portrait of "Golden Repair". My work explores the process of listening, seeing and being with the parts of us that are on the inside, often hidden and yet playing a very powerful role in shaping our lives. Noticing all the thoughts, feelings, memories, beliefs, values, desires, how do we consciously and creatively become fully ourselves? How do we know what to keep and what to let go?

The ongoing journey becoming more fully myself with my multiracial, multicultural, immigrant heritage and experiences, however challenging, is most certainly worth the work. It's the way to be free. My work invites us to appreciate the beauty of our inner treasures and tribulations, the gold and the repairs to better align our pleasures, power and purpose toward our most authentic, wondrous being."