I create paintings that critically examine the representation and identity of Chinese women in the UK. Through self-portrait, I challenge the often-stereotypical portrayals and reclaim narratives of the “invisible community”. My works also investigates how intersecting factors such as race, gender, sexuality, and class shape diasporic experiences. I draw inspiration from historical contexts, personal encounters, my cultural memory and strive to capture the complexities of identity and belonging.

 

Hung Liu once said, “I think exploring means finding something you’ve never experienced or seen or heard before.”(Gross, 2012) I share this philosophy and believe artistic investigation is a process of openness and discovery. Therefore, I have been inspired by different artists and experimented with different media, including oil paint and egg tempera to convey my idea. Also, by incorporating a blend of archival materials, writings by British-Chinese diasporic writers, diasporic and feminist theories, and my own experiences, I construct narratives that navigate the “in-between” spaces of belonging. 

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My creative process is heavily influenced by feminist theorits Kimberlé Crenshaw, Sara Ahmed, and artists such as Hung Liu, Yvonne Feng and Denise Kwan. Their works and artistic philosophies lead me to incorporate elements such as attire, texture, symbolic colour themes to represent identity authentically, free from stereotyping identity.

 

Through my work, I aim to amplify visibility, spark dialogue, and raise critical questions about belonging, identity, and agency in the context of diasporic experiences, bridging personal and collective histories, connecting the past with the contemporary, and expressing nuances.

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References:​​

Gross, R. (2012) Art talk with Hung Liu, National Endowment for the Arts. Available at: https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2012/art-talk-hung-liu (Accessed: 20 January 2025). 

 

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