Mix media on ceramic. 27.5” x 15” x 8” inches.

 

The Insecurities of an Impossible Name is a ceramic self-portrait bust, a visual connection of the Roman dictator, Julius Caesar—to the present-day American—myself. This sculpture represents a conflict I have with sharing the given name “Julius” and how anyone who has it is doomed to feel the burden to embody inspiration, excellence, or overcome adversity qualities of the Greco-Roman Emperor, Caesar. Psychologists studied hundreds of thousands of names, said: “They can significantly affect your life, even what profession you enter; And the biggest symbol of who you are, in fact, is your name, and if you feel good about yourself and your name, you will feel good about anything that even vaguely resembles your name.” This birthright conundrum baffles me whenever I delve into the subject. My search for clarity comes from my frustrations with first impressions of others and preconceived notions of my identity.