The Citizen

The Citizen

The Citizen is a child of deep-cover espionage between Russia and the US. She lived her first years in the United States as a citizen born within its borders. Like many children, her English name and her identity were written on her blue, American passport. During her childhood, an abrupt visit from government officials to her house made her discover her parents' real names. Moments after, her Russian name and her identity were given to her on her red, Russian passport. The spy swap made it to the news, and both countries’ intelligence honored their agents for their services. The Citizen and the other agents' children, on the other hand, were preoccupied with their new names and lives. The Citizen started her Russian lessons knowing that she was no longer welcome in the place that she knew and loved. This painting shows the US-Russia dichotomy in one person who is part of both and none. The Citizen taught me that identity is a work in progress, one that requires active and personal development. Her story made me reflect on my own privilege: I have always known and have never questioned that I am Venezuelan, and I am allowed to visit the place where I am from.

Francisco Perozo

I am an environmental studies major and an art minor fourth-year student from Caracas, Venezuela. Before coming to LC, I had the privilege to study for two years in Dilijan, Armenia. I painted for the first time on that campus. There, I met truly inspiring people from all over the world, who shared with me some of the most fascinating stories. The subject of this portrait is one of them.

Oil on canvas. [The original painting was donated to the United World College of Dilijan on May 2019]