Erasure (Nothing Lasts Forever)

India ink on gauze

3 x 3 ft.

2021

Erasure (Nothing Lasts Forever) is a commentary on how ancient cultural practices such as Chinese scroll painting are being lost to rapid modernization. Each iteration of the triptych showcases how the once clear and crisp mountainscape slowly degrades into an unrecognizable wash of ink and fabric. As a second generation Chinese-Korean-American who grew up in a predominantly white community, it saddens me to realize how much of my culture has been lost due to my parents' needs to assimilate into American society. I realize now how many traditions they have let go in exchange for the life they have built here, but as I grow older I find myself longing for that connection to their roots. Erasure (Nothing Lasts Forever) is a reflection of how I view my own cultural identity, and how it is still something I struggle with to this day.