Ante Benedikt Kurilić
Permanent Resident
Sculpture
2019
Cast Iron
203 x 60 x 48 cm
“Permanent Resident” is dedicated to all international students who have challenged themselves to live their dreams in the land of opportunities. My work explores the experiences of international students who face the limitations of short working hours, expiring student visa deadlines and the obstacles for their permanent status in new countries. International students choose to study abroad for a variety of reasons. These range from the need to establish a steadier career in their home country once they graduate, the chance to study at schools with resources and facilities on campuses, to receive a prestigious degree from a Western English-speaking country, or the opportunity to immigrate and receive the benefits from living and studying in a foreign country. However, most of these international students face homesickness, loneliness, financial issues, and stress which can become barriers to their success.