Diane

As an artist of mixed-race heritage, I draw inspiration from my cultural roots, family lineage, surroundings, and feminist principles. Social ideologies serve as the backdrop for my artistic concepts, fostering dialogue and forging connections for others.

My muse is my 90-year-old grandmother, Diane, a Hakka woman from Yuen Long, China, whose remarkable journey as a child bride to Canada shapes my creative narrative. Immigrating at 15 aboard the US General Gordon, she endured a harrowing voyage, selected for marriage to an English-speaking stranger by her war-torn family. Through exploring Diane's history, I embrace photography as my medium, a platform historically overlooked by art scholars but celebrated by pioneering female artists like Lotte Jacobi and Reva Brooks. In capturing Diane's resilience, I reclaim beauty as a symbol of empowerment rather than subjugation, removing the male gaze from the equation.

In my work, I reflect on Diane's past, emphasizing her attachment to her possessions as symbols of survival and identity. Her story epitomizes strength amidst adversity, portraying a woman who credits her appearance with preserving her family. Diane is not only my subject but also my grandmother, her narrative resonating deeply within my artistic expression.