My mother Mira went missing when I was 12 years old.

This is her traditional Korean wedding portrait with my father.

As I got older, I began uncovering more and more information about what happened to her.

In order to process my loss, and also understand more about my family, I started creating artworks based on old photos of my mother.

Drawing from old photographs, I am able to see her face and features clearly enough to help me learn about her and myself.

Although my actual memories of her are slippery and hard to grasp on to, the photos I have help me remember her as I create art.

I’m on a search for my mother, but I’m also sending her a message–to let her know that I still care. ~shared by @laurenhanachai