Pass-Port No. 2

Performance at ASpace Gallery; curated by Teresa Ascencao
2007

I have experienced on many occasions how easy it is for me, due to my appearance, to ‘pass’ for another nationality.  I have never done this ‘passing’ intentionally; rather it has been others who have suggested and at times insisted that I was of a particular nationality. This in turn reflects the way in which I am then treated by others and the sense of impersonality that is provoked.  These experiences are the foundation for this performance.  It is important to share these experiences to demonstrate that although acceptance is possible within other ethnic groups, the ability to ‘pass’ for other nationalities can also lead to a feeling of marginalization from the “majority”, which in turn evokes a larger sense of isolation and a greater need to belong.

Documentation by Milena Placentile