#Relatives

An extended family is the logical dilemma of endlessly multiplying members under the universal banner of blood or marriage, diluting individual privacy at each expansion. The more relatives you have, the more glorious birthday parties become--but they also play host to an all-you-can-eat buffet of obligation and awkward small talk. From an uncle's offhand remark to the secret history of a distant cousin, social pressure entombs you in shared narratives. It is a puzzle-like collective where love and exasperation stand shoulder to shoulder, impossible to capture in a single portrait.

An in-law is a community bound by chains of blood and marriage, convening under the guise of New Year gatherings and ceremonial events to test the strength of their ties. Rather than respecting each other’s privacy, they wield curiosity like a magnifying glass, fixated more on roles and hierarchy than unconditional love. The moment the New Year greetings end, complaints and status plays multiply in proportion to the number of faces seen. In the end, they part with an ‘See you next year,’ a phrase carrying a spoiler for next year’s stress.

A niece is a tiny strategist wielding innocent smiles and tearful ultimatums to extract family resources. She treats the relatives' wallets as her performance stage, eliminating any reason to refuse her demands. Birthdays and Christmas turn into negotiation arenas, revealing the illusion of a stable budget. Under the guise of affection, she nullifies all veto powers. It is not an exaggeration to say that an aunt’s entire schedule is commandeered by her niece.