-Acrylic on wood
-12 × 12 × 2 in
-30.5 × 30.5 × 5.1 cm

From the Artist: I’m the daughter of immigrants- the first of my family to be born in the United States. My bloodline leads me overseas, but I know that’s not my home. There, I’m an American tourist. Yet here in the US - my home, I’ve always been made distinctly aware of my otherness. When I was little, kids pulled their eyes to slits at me. And all my life I’ve been subject to dumb racial comments. “Hey Mulan”, “konichiwa”, your typical ‘ching chong’s and various bad mocking Asian accents, etc. One time a witty genius yelled “wonton soup” at me from across a street. Another time, a woman asked me if I spoke English, while I was working, in uniform, at a state museum… (Fun fact- I used to be an art guard - no touchie lol). So yeah in the US, sometimes I’m very distinctly aware that I’m Chinese.

But my Chinese feels watered down. Like the murky waters of a lotus pond. My heritage washes over me with a comfortable familiarity, but the roots remain hidden below. I know some Chinese things. I AM Chinese. But do I KNOW know them?

The lotus reaches for a place in the light of a new day, and every night it submerges and sleeps in the mystery of its past. Floating back and forth between worlds- I feel both attached and detached, to both my Chinese and my American culture. Being Asian American is to exist in this in-between space. To learn and carry on traditions of our past, and to create and celebrate a completely new culture- one made of our unique blended experiences.

This piece was partly inspired by my dad’s koi fish pond :)

Part of TRADITIONS - 2nd Annual AAPI Group Show. If purchased, the artwork has to just stay on display until the duration of the exhibition is complete. The show comes down June 7th. Then please give us a few business days to ready your piece for shipment and send it out to you. We appreciate your patience and understanding.