Ascent into Diasporatopia resembles the rightfully culturally appropriated Chinese junk boat which, historically, was used by Cantonese opera troupes rebelling against the government through performative storytelling, which is now a dying cultural tradition that needs preserving. For me, it symbolises courage to voice unheard stories in the hope of preserving ancestral knowledge and lived experiences – something I wish I had had access to growing up.

The physical limitations of the work act as a barrier, deliberately denying entry. This tension awakens an empathetic yearning that I have experienced myself wanting to return to my homeland. Instead, the idealised visions in my imagination have transported me to the surreal realm of Diasporatopia.

My dreamscapes symbolise heavenly realms; I imagine gods and goddesses drifting between the sea, sky, and land, journeying through meanderings left behind by diluted ink. Ultimately, the absence of deities speaks of cultural assimilation in Western society for migrants, resulting in the lack of ethnic guidance.

Meanwhile, it embodies the deep love my cross-cultural family had to travel across the world to be with each other, simultaneously, there is great poignance in the trauma of separation. Therefore, I hope that my artwork will open up discussions for multiple diasporas.

Internship in London or Bournemouth, and travel.