Sent to a Watery Grave
Immigration. Refugee Crisis. With the war in Syria, these matters are very pressing and continuously growing. When you have to leave behind your war-ravaged country and seek asylum elsewhere, in an unknown land, with a foreign language, possibly losing your loved ones, where would you go? For many, the choice is stay and be killed or Leave and try to restart. But the journey is not easy, many die en route when fleeing, especially by drowning. Although many Americans find the amount of refugee drowned deaths, there is a hostile sentiment towards these Syrian refugees. If you had to flee in order to save yourself and your family, would you want countries to bar their doors? Watercolor, Pen. 22 x 30in |
East Meets West
Who am I? I am a blend of Chinese and American. Both my parents are immigrants from China, so I grew up in a Chinese-American surrounding. There is always a pressure to assimilate into American society and culture, and although I have adopted some styles from my surroundings in the U.S, I still hold onto my Chinese roots. The colorful stippled accessories are western influences while the black and white represent me, a girl who’s proud to be part of the Chinese community. You should not be ashamed of your background, proudly show off where you come from, because that is what makes you unique. Pen. 20 x 22in |
Family Hot Pot
A sister piece to East Meets West. Drawn for the Parsons Challenge. Watercolor, Pen, Marker. 9 x 12 in |
Revealing the Ugly: Social Taboos
How can ART change the world? That is a very big question with no definite answer. My piece focuses on the social taboos found in American society. Each model represents a taboo: Suicide, Female Sexuality, Racial Oppression, Society’s views on Women, Eating Disorders, Domestic Abuse, and Rape. I want to change your way of thinking about these topics hidden in society. To solve these problems, the first step is to recognize and speak out against them. Watercolor, Pen. 17in x 24in |
Defeated
Who can hear your cry for help? No one can relate to the personal struggles that one goes through at the lowest point in their lives, and although we try to sympathize, we do not have the right to say they just gave up. Maybe you didn’t notice the signs or you were the one blocking their cry for help. “Killing oneself is, anyway, a misnomer. We don’t kill ourselves. We are simply defeated by the long, hard struggle to stay alive... And they are inclined to think, about a suicide, that no fight was involved, that somebody simply gave up. This is quite wrong.” --Sally Brampton Watercolor, Pen. 14 x 11in |
Who’s Pulling the Strings?
The issue of gun control has always been prominent. Hearing the slogan "Guns don't kill people; people kill people" made me think about this issue. While guns themselves don't just decide to kill, it makes it a lot easier to inflict more damage. In 2015 alone, there were 372 mass shootings. Compared to the top 10 developed countries, the U.S. rates #1 in homicides, suicides, and anything gun related. Instead of just #prayfor... what can we do at the root of the problem to stop these killings? Watercolor, Pen. 15 x 11in |
Disconnect
The Age of Technology. This generation has seen the rise in smart technology, in social media, in new ways of connecting and accessing information online. It has broadened our reach, but could also be seen as detrimental. Not only are there cyber pressures, communication could be lost, life passes in a snap, everything flies by quickly. Is there a disconnect between people nowadays? Look around at lunch, in public areas, most people are obsessed with their phones. Is it still possible to disconnect young people these days? Are we so immersed, that we cannot live without our phones, TVs, computers?
Watercolor, Pen. 8.5 x 14in
The Age of Technology. This generation has seen the rise in smart technology, in social media, in new ways of connecting and accessing information online. It has broadened our reach, but could also be seen as detrimental. Not only are there cyber pressures, communication could be lost, life passes in a snap, everything flies by quickly. Is there a disconnect between people nowadays? Look around at lunch, in public areas, most people are obsessed with their phones. Is it still possible to disconnect young people these days? Are we so immersed, that we cannot live without our phones, TVs, computers?
Watercolor, Pen. 8.5 x 14in
The Alternative Fact: Selective Reading
Alternative Facts. Sounds like Orwell’s 1984, but it is very present in the Media today. How can we discern what is the truth? Is mainstream Media reporting The Truth? the entire story? Is any Media we see filtered? Or are we reading only the things we want to? Purposefully blinding ourselves from the “Other Side”? What is the Whole Story? Watercolor, Pen, Newspaper collage. 12 x 17 in |
Spilled
Oil spills have started a spark on environmental protection. With the BP oil spill in 2010, all the way to the Dakota Access Pipeline and its leak today, some have downplayed the severity of these impacts on nature. But it is a critical problem whenever there is a leak, it may not impact you directly, but the earth, other people, water supplies, wildlife, everything else is affected. We are all connected, you cannot avoid the detrimental impact these spills leave. Fluid Acrylic, Watercolor, Pen, White Ink, Paper. 20 x 12 in |
Through the Veins
The U.S predominantly relies on fossil fuels, with only about 10% Renewable energy. The Earth is deteriorating at a very fast speed as we continue our dependence on harmful and toxic substances. We only have one environment to live in, and if we destroy our own home, who can forgive us? We are connected to the Earth. There is still hope to reverse some of the damage. Watercolor, dried leaves. 14 x 11 in |
The Next Generation
January 21st, 2017 marked the worldwide protest to advocate for legislation and policies regarding human rights and other issues. The people of the US took notice, from the bright pink Hats to the colorful, slogan signs. Cities around the country held it’s own march, the main focus on Washington D.C. No matter who is in power, the rights of the people should never be threatened. This march featured people of all races, shapes and sizes, and especially, ages. Children were very present in this march, after all, they are the next generation inheriting this world. Watercolor, Yarn, Marker, Ink pen. 14 x 11 in |
Spring Flowers, Summer Loving
Left: Jackie O at the beach surrounded by lemons and dandelions. // Right: Chinese girl from propaganda poster with Chinese rug and flowers.
Photo collage, Stamping, Yarn embroidery. 12 x 22 in
Left: Jackie O at the beach surrounded by lemons and dandelions. // Right: Chinese girl from propaganda poster with Chinese rug and flowers.
Photo collage, Stamping, Yarn embroidery. 12 x 22 in
Fire Flower
This piece was inspired by music, more specifically, a Chinese song from my childhood. The song is about a dying flower that undergoes a change so great and explosive that it becomes a reborn fire flower. I was inspired to create a piece that reflects this charged feeling of change with bright colors and lines, challenging myself to work with negative space and warm colors. Watercolor, Paper, Marker, Ink, Pen. 18 x 24 in |
The 90's through Fashion
The Best of McQueen.
Fashion illustrations. Watercolor, Pen.
Fashion illustrations. Watercolor, Pen.