Witness

At the height of the pandemic, hate crimes against Asians rose by nearly 150%. I was heartbroken and afraid, but it also awakened something in me-the need to elevate my voice. I began reflecting on my identity, specifically whatit meant to be an Asian American woman. In doing so, I found a complex mix of emotions: delight, sometimes feeling unsafe in my own skin, and a sense of invisibility. I felt emboldened to take up space and think about what representation meant for Us.

I was inspired by Kehinde Wiley's approach as a portraitist, engaging the signs and visual rhetoric of the heroic, powerful, majestic and the sublime in his representation of black and brown men found throughout the world.

This became the beginning of my inspiration. I selected friends who inspired me and dressed them in extravagant fashion from the Renaissance period, symbolizing our layered identities and passions. I wanted to make a statement--that we are a people of complexity, with many areas of talent and knowledge.

As I continued to paint, and the vibrancy of the colors began to emerge, I realized I was witnessing something deeply significant:

the most precious truth of all that we are seen and known by God, uniquely and perfectly.