Artist Statement
Disappearing Chinese Culture and Staycation during the Pandemic
The two series of illustrations I present focus on the current state of contemporary society.
The first series considers the Disappearing Chinese Culture. I grew up in China and came to Canada years ago. Every time I go back to China, I can feel a difference. The impact of western culture on my hometown, and an increasing number of Chinese people are ignoring our traditional culture.
This phenomenon is not unique to China. Canada is a multicultural society and well known for its cultural diversity. Due to the development of science and technology and the process of globalization, the integration and collision of cultures is becoming more frequent, leading to the gradual replacement of many traditional cultures with dominant ones.
China is an ancient cultural country with over five thousand years of cultural heritage. The fact that traditional Chinese culture is disappearing is of great concern to me. My four illustrations reflect the forgotten aspects of China; the traditional Chinese Opera, festivals, musical instruments, and family belonging. Through the depiction of details specific to each aspect, I show the impact of foreign cultures and the current situation in China I have observed. My illustrations address the impact of globalization where exported cultures dominate over traditional cultural expressions. I feel it is regrettable to see the gradual disappearance of Chinese cultural heritage.
The second series, Staycation During the Pandemic, depicts the new lifestyle during the pandemic. The last two years have looked a lot different than any time before. Other than stress, depression and anxiety, our life can still be enjoyable – even with health concerns and travel restrictions. My illustrations portray how to celebrate the joys of life without leaving the house. I hope this series can help you recall the warm moments in your life during the pandemic times.