My name is Retina Zygi. I am a 20-year old artist from Texas, now based in New York City, who after 7 years of exploring art, has finally found her niche. During the freshman year of college, I acknowledged my passion for a genre I had always had interest in, photography, and immediately began developing my own manipulative style. As of today, I combine painting, drawing, and photography to develop photo-collages, all of which are inspired by hip hop. Hip hop is often confused with rap music, and while I do invest a lot of my time understanding rap music, hip hop is a motivational source for me. Hip hop is not just a genre of music. Hip hop is a lifestyle, it's a belief, it's whatever you need it to be in that instance, whatever your soul makes it out to be. Being able to listen to what an artist has to say, and genuinely taking the time to understand what he or she is trying to tell their audience within their poetry makes me feel secure. I feel as if I was with that person as they were experiencing whatever it is they are telling about through their song and it's mythical that they trust me enough to share that. Often, as human beings we only experience that type of security and trust from family members, or people very close to us, but the fact that hip hop lets me in, tells me about experiences that may trouble me before I even encounter them, makes me feel accepted, protected, loved, and guided. Hip hop has always been there for me, and it always will be. I'm constantly inspired and always coming up with innovative ideas which ultimately means my artistic direction is continuously evolving. I love and respect every genre of art (including creative writing). I'm more concerned with engaging my audience, rather than attracting one, so I feel pressure within myself to make sure my artwork is recognized, because the message behind every piece deserves the attention.