Identity Matters

Date: 12/2021
Material: Procreate

Identity Matters is a digital painting that explores the impact of contemporary American anti-Asian sentiment. The portrait depicts an Asian girl divided into two contrasting halves. The left side presents a stereotypical image of an Asian girl with black hair and yellow skin. In contrast, the right half showcases a modern American aesthetic, featuring trendy blonde hair, bold makeup, and a lighter skin tone. This artwork aims to highlight the internal conflict many Asian Americans experience as they navigate societal expectations. To gain acceptance and be perceived as true Americans, many feel pressured to suppress their heritage and conform to dominant cultural norms. This pressure intensifies as the pandemic continues, exacerbating existing discrimination against Asian Americans and challenging their sense of belonging.