Wendy Lin

My series explores how my Asian American identity has been shaped by my personal experiences and relationships with the people around me. Throughout my work, I draw fragments from my childhood and culture as an exploration of what makes me who I am today. 

Initially, my works depicted a more general outlook on the Asian American experience. I juxtaposed Chinese and American elements in snippets of my life and suggested the omniscient presence of others through the portrayal of hands. As the series progressed, I highlighted more specific aspects of my life and culture by incorporating myself and my family. I utilize bright colors to reflect the vividness of my childhood and evoke the feelings of comfort and familiarity within my Chinese community. In some pieces, I sprinkle in prominent styles of Chinese culture by implementing designs with gold pen and collage. By incorporating symbolic representations such as lanterns that display fortune or tangerines that indicate luck, I reveal a deeper aspect of what it means to be Asian American, as well as the reality and beauty of life for all of us who have most likely grappled with the all-encompassing and unique recognition of identity.