A blue figure with a green orb in its mouth wearing western-influenced tattoos and an elaborate garment hangs on the wall of the “Child of the World” exhibit at the Asian American Cultural Center.

The piece is titled “Edward Said,” after the father of Orientalism and is the central artwork of the exhibit.

Jessica Lee Rojas, creator of the work and senior in FAA, explained that being an oil painting, it is unusual or “wrong” that it was done on a green matte, thus demonstrating her idea of exploring “the other, the weird, the foreign and the outsider.”

“I think of green as a symbol of both life and death. Acidity is green, growing leaves are green … there’s this duality in the color,” she said. “So I brought that in as a stop for someone with normal art practices and why I would go against my training.”

Rojas is part of the mixed-race American community of about 7.5 million people. Her father is from Puerto Rico and her mother is from Taiwan, so much of the artwork at the exhibit conveys the idea of “east meets west,” combining these two heritages.

Being biracial, Rojas said she used to be self-conscious and sometimes felt like she didn’t fit in.

“As I got older, it became my favorite thing about me,” Rojas said. “My mom would always call me a ‘mutt’ and sort of compare me to a mixed dog. She’d say that mixed dogs are the prettiest dogs and make me feel like I was something special.”

While much of the work in the exhibit is focused on her Taiwanese heritage and Orientalism, it is heavily influenced by her Latina-Asian identity. At a corner of the room hangs a portrait called “El Viejo San Juan,” which Rojas describes as a very “nostalgic painting” for her. It depicts Rojas as a child with her Puerto Rican father. It is also her oldest painting in the exhibit.

“I was really interested in bringing that piece because of the idea of mixed cultures,” she said. “And also because I think what makes us unique as Americans is the huge number of us who don’t look like what we are.”

Rojas has been involved with art, specifically painting, for her entire life.

“A lot of my work has to do with a feeling of displacement, of not necessarily feeling connected to a specific cultural heritage. But at the same time a lot of my work has to do with cultural celebration … you’ll see a lot of strange and beautiful things.”

Sarah Chaney, senior in FAA, described her perception of her friend Rojas’ work.

“Jessica’s work is always graphic and bright. It has a certain level of twistedness, and so they always make me stop and think,” Chaney said. “Even ones that I’ve seen many times, I still always want to look at them longer.”

The “Child of the World” is Rojas’ first solo art exhibition.

“The Asian American Cultural Center has given me this wonderful opportunity. They’ve been wonderful to work with,” she said. “To have a space to fill and call your own is really amazing.”

Kenny Importante, assistant director of the Asian American Cultural Center and coordinator of the exhibit, said the center hosts four art shows throughout the year and has been doing so for five years now. The “Child of the World” exhibit started on Nov. 5 and will last until Jan. 28. It is open every Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and every Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

He explained that the Asian American Cultural Center provides opportunities for people to learn about Asian culture in general and provides a space for students to showcase their artwork to remind people of the talent on campus.

“I think this one is very unique on its own because of the fact that Jessica puts together artwork related to her own upbringing and background,” Importante said. “It is great to showcase some of the multiracial related art pieces to remind our society of a diverse group of students that we have here on campus.”

Rojas’ future goals include opening a gallery space of her own and teaching art at the college level.

Edward can be reached at [email protected].