Since NPR interviewed me this week about mixed race Asian Americans and pushing the boundaries around what it means to be Asian in America, I’ve had a lot of time to think about what it means for me in this very climate of extreme anti-Asian racism and hate.
Where I landed was influenced by what I noticed in my father’s work that we pulled out in the studio today. My eyes have lately been drawn to contrast – looking at and fixating on differences, picking up on details and slight distinctions in colors. In these two sets of variable edition lithographs, we can see how my father’s experimentation using color slightly/dramatically changes the presentation of the same concept. These nuances create a beautifully different, but same piece. There is an element of harmony within the set, even though they are slightly different.
As a biracial person, one might presume I have lived a life of internal contrast. I have a conflict inside of me that is an expression of the tension that exists in our country today. If I can manage the contrast within myself and learn to live at peace with all of the pieces of me, sometimes in contrast with each other, then I am sure that others in this country can learn to do the same as it relates to racial tension and hate. It takes work, an ability to be self-aware, and a desire for harmony and collaboration. And love, lots of love.