Art has been a visual tool to communicate for centuries, and the way we use that tool can educate, influence, and inspire society’s views on certain subjects. There is an unspoken language between visuals and the viewer, and artists are the tool to translating this language. I hope to translate this language through my abstract paintings, and people will understand my emotions and feelings without having to hear my words. 

 

My work challenges the theme of how Asian American women are fetishized throughout Western society and how it has affected them today. Through color symbolism, collage, and mark making, my work speaks for those voices who have gone unheard, and creates a relationship between those who have been affected by this subtle racism. 

 

Being an Asian American woman myself, I have experienced objectification and fetishizing first hand. My experiences trace back to when I was young, up to what continues to happen on a daily basis. These experiences have led me to create paintings that express my unspoken emotions and feelings. 

 

Traditional mark making allows me to transmit thoughts into physical, tangible objects. I am able to physically see what I was feeling on a canvas. These mark makings are able to express the language I am unable to speak. While some artists paint figuratively, I incorporate my personal figure with the size of the canvas. I build canvases that reflect my own height and stature, which allows my figure to be present without painting literally. I collage oriental textiles and patterns to bring the sense of Eastern culture to my piece. Cherry blossoms, lanterns, and Chinese wallpaper are just a few representations I incorporate into my work. These subtle details and techniques allow me to convey my concept in a way where the viewer can relate too. 

 

By creating these abstract paintings, I hope to speak for women who have not had the opportunity to be heard. I am communicating a stigma that has been normalized by society, and I hope to bring awareness to the public about this silenced subject.