ARTIST STATEMENT
“Eleanor” explores the life of my mother, a guerrilla during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines in World War II. I layer family archives on images from the U.S. National Archives to interrupt the existing Western narrative with previously untold stories of a young Filipino woman and her family’s experience during the violent Japanese occupation. With this work, I narrate Eleanor’s story of resistance to reclaim the importance of everyday women during violent world conflicts. Contemporary matters of war and violence drive me to reflect on my mother’s experiences during World War II as a way to honor her service and question why history repeats itself.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Editha Mesina is a photographer and educator based in New York City. Born in the Philippines. Mesina explores themes of identity, memory and resistance through her focus on women’s narratives. Her work has been exhibited in New York City, nationally and internationally. Mesina is an Assistant Arts Professor at NYU Tisch Department of Photography and Imaging and is a New York Foundation for the Arts Fellow in Photography.
© Editha G Mesina