Scrapbook

Emily

From Emily

When thinking about "identity" and "visual", the first thing that came to mind was flipping through family photo albums with my partner. I took this approach and made a scrapbook with photocopies of some of the photos in the family albums, as well as other pictures that I felt fit.

My identities and connection to the spaces around me start much before me, and stretch far beyond me. From the fishers in Vancouver to the kids in a homeless shelter, and healthcare workers at hospitals to co-workers at non-profits, my story flows into others around me, some I'm not even aware of.

The left page is blank. The right page has one photo. Man standing on a boat surrounded by water, with houses on water in the background.

Stolen homes and stolen land, stolen boats on stolen waters

During WWII, the Canadian government took the homes and belongings of all Nikkei Canadians, afraid we will spied who would cause bombings. None of their possessions were ever returned.

This is a photo of my great grandfather in the 70's with a boat he managed to buy. He never got his fishing boat back from the government, but you can't keep a fisher landlocked forever.

The left page has one image. A kimono shaped pastel colour origami paper, layered on top of green flower patterned origami paper and pink paper. The right page has one photo. Young lady in white bridal dress smiling and holding a flower bouquet, and older lady in pink dress.

My mother, Rosie, and grandmother, Mariko

The left page has four photos. Man in red shirt holding a baby. Woman in white shirt holding a baby, standing in front of Christmas tree. woman and two children sitting behind a table, with a candle on a paper plate on the table. Man with two children, all smiling. The right page has seven photos. Taller older boy in batman costume standing beside shorter younger girl wearing eye mask. Younger girl with older boy in red sweaters, both standing in front of Christmas tree. Censored topless younger girl and older smiling boy sitting in bathtub. Three photos of same girl in pink Mulan costume/ Young girl standing in front of a car. Two children lying on man, all on a sofa and smiling. Censored topless young girl posing on a child chair.

Family

Dad and I, Willowdale / Mum and Edward, Oakville

What am I supposed to be? / Bath time! / Representation matters! / I was sad when we had to put our card down. / The body in a home. / I need this confidence back.

Note from Project Facilitator/Researcher: Despite the artist had given explicit consent to display nudity of herself as a child, two photographs (second and fourth image from top on the far right) above have been censored to minimize improper or mischievous uses.

The left page has six photos. Bride and groom standing in front of stairs. Two children with a white dog inside a house. Older woman with grey hair surrounded by a girl and three women with black hair. A group of older women with salt and pepper hair, four sitting in front of a painting and two standing on the side. Older woman with black hair in white collar black top, and another older woman with light hair in blue top. Older women sitting beside girl with black hair in living room, both wearing glasses. The right page has five photos. Old man with glasses sitting on armchair, with a bowl of candy on table in the foreground. Cat and old man with glasses sitting on armchair. Old man with glasses sitting beside a table with birthday cake. Standing boy, young girl sitting in old man's lap, and young man sitting behind a table with cake. Older men with glasses and strip shirt standing behind young girl in white top.

We loved our nana's dogs / Chosen family / Nana and Baachan / Nana and me (Dad's side)

100 years young

Watching samurai movies together / Happy Birthday! / (Grandpa on mom's side)

The left page has six photos. Empty paved walkway. Paved sidewalk with black metal fence on one side and grass on the other. Black metal outdoor seating with table at a park. Evergreen trees with shrubs. Walkway with lamp post leading to Gibson House. Small man-made stream with pea gravel, shrubs and trees around. The right page has seven photos and one illustration. "Senlac Convenience" white letters on red awning mounted on a small building. Two rows of packaged and loose candies with tongs. Empty walkway leading to small building and fence. Greenery with dedicated stone, in front of a building. Driveway surrounded by trees, in front of a school. Library book shelves with stand-alone hand sanitizing station. Glass store front with ceiling-hung sign. Anime illustration with two white glowing creatures in dark forest.

Neighbourhood

The Gibson House is said to be haunted. I went to summer camp here. / York Cemetery. I learned to ride my bike here and later took people on dates.

My parents would give me $2 to fill a small bag with candy. / My middle school where I first got confused about my sexuality.

The left page has six images. Storefronts with traffic lights in downtown Toronto. Black, white, and neon orange store signage beside a glass door. Empty blue seats on a bus. Miscellaneous art objects hung from ceiling and multiple framed images mounted on wall. "OK SHY" white letters on red background, rotated 90 degrees. Maneki neko, Japanese white lucky cat ceramic. The right page has four images, with three of the photos layered on top of a maple leaf patterned origami paper. Small house with trees beside water. Body of water with trees in background. Unpaved pathway and trees with number and address signs. Anime illustration with three white glowing creatures in dark forest.

Explore the city

Old haunts / Am I disabled enough to site here? / Sad art store / OK SHY / My guardian

Grandpa's cottage

My absolute favourite place growing up

The left page has four images. Anime illustration of blue hair girl with eye patch and brown hair boy, both with slightly shocked faces. Anime illustration of Sailor Mercury, girl with short blue hair in light blue sailor suit, layered on top of black and white patterned origami paper. Anime illustration of Homura, girl with long black hair in white and grey outfit. Anime illustration of Radish Spirit from Spirited Away, white radish-like character wearing red hat and loincloth. The right page has five images, layered on top of yellow paper. Book cover of Naomi's Road by Joy Kogawa, illustrated with the back of a girl with short black hair in black top holding a bag. Anime illustration of black and white robot. Anime illustration of black and white robot. Anime illustration of Skitty or Eneco from Pokemon, a pink and cream coloured feline character. Anime illustration of Penelope or Chibimaru-chan from Hamtaro, a yellow blanket covered baby hamster. Anime illustration of ash brown hair person sitting back to back with chestnut brown hair person.

My fave ace couple! / Do Homura's ace colours mean something?

The first book I couldn't put down. / Japanese popular culture was a way for me to feel connected to my culture and identity. / My gemini moon likes these two.

The left page has three photos, layered on top of red maple leaf patterned origami paper. Two kokeshi doll figures made of wood. Display for Hinamatsuri or Girls' Day, with a set of ornamental dolls sitting on top of red fabric covered seven-tiered platform. Small wooden doll sphere being held by a hand. The right page has three photos, layered on top of red maple leaf patterned origami paper. Young girl playing piano. Young girl holding her head while resting on kitchen table. Toddler girl with white trapper hat posing with cat beside a patio door.

I like dolls that look like me. / Momiji is a seniors' home I've been visiting my whole life.

My Nana knitted me a pink cap to keep me warm. This is her cat, Mika, who kept trying to kill me.

Eva's Place: a youth homeless shelter. / In and out of hospitals for fainting spells, open heart surgery, and a suicide attempt has helped with my fear of needles.

He said "no pets" and now look. / Great coffee and the nicest people!

The left page has four photos and one illustration. Soup in bowl, meat and rice on plate, chopsticks, mug, teapot, and condiments jar on table. Japanese confection in small packages in a box. Tea in tea cup and saucer, desserts on plate with glasses of drinks on festive tablecloth covered table. Various food items in bowls and large plates, with a stack with empty plates and forks on table. Anime illustration of Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service, short hair girl with large red ribbon bow barrette, drinking from a tea cup, and her cat licking its bowl of milk beside her. The right page has eight photos. White cat with grey ears with monkey costume. Black cat sitting on floor. White cat with grey ears lying on floor under small bench lined with stuffed animals on top. White cat with grey ears sitting on table beside pumpkins and fall leaf pattened cellophane wrapping paper. Black cat in rocks and shrubs. White cat with grey ears lying sideways on wood floor beside blue wall with white trim. Cat sitting in dresser drawer, located beside a window. Black cat hiding in strip patterned linen.

Home tastes like...

Momo 8 years / Blanche 6 years

The left page has three photos. Silhouette of man with glasses, standing below cherry blossom tree and blue sky. Man with dark hair and glasses looking at a cup of gelato on table and licking a spoon. Man with dark hair and glasses holding a brown cat, standing in front of tan coloured kitchen cabinets. The right page has four photos. Woman with grey hair in red jacket holding lilac flower on branches. Close up of lilac flowers. Another close up of lilac flowers. Woman with grey hair in red jacket smelling lilac flower on branches.

Lilacs bloom in Grandma and Grandpa's yard every spring.

The left page has two photos. Orange and yellow coloured cushions on black sofa, with black table and white shelves in the background. Plant on coffee table, orange and brown coloured cushions on red sofa, black table, and standing easel with paper pad, all in front of white shelves and work station. The right page has one photo. Framed black and white photo of a couple in wedding outfit, and a small stained glass angel, in front of two white rectangular urns on a burgundy shelf.

ACAS is a homey space that allows me to explore the intersections of my queer and Asian identities and connect with others like me.

Nana and Grandpa in my dad's side. I still say hello to them when I visit.

Emily

Emily is an asexual and aromantic Nikkei Canadian. She's been trying to connect with her communities more of late, such as the Japanese Canadian community as well as the queer community. When she's not trying to form connections between her intersecting identities, she can be found reading either books or astrology charts with her beloved cat.

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