The folding screen portrays a visual experience of my life growing up in South Seattle.
漢的屏風 – “Spring-Autumn Festival” and “Emerald City” Editions, 2020
20”x11”
Chinese screens date back to the Eastern Zhou period (771–256 BCE). They were initially one-panel screens in contrast to folding screens. Folding screens were invented during the Han dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE). Inspired by a traditional folding screen at the Macao Museum (澳門博物館), my artwork aspires to depict the typical scenes on these folding screens: a legend, cultural landmarks and values, and/or daily life at the time of creation. Screens, as well as other utilitarian tools and decorations, are a form of physical storytelling and timepieces passed down from generation to generation. Reflecting on my own experiences growing up in South Seattle, I draw upon multiple moments from my life, from various locations meaningful to me in the greater-Seattle area, and combine them on an “origin” screen, a personal representation of how I view and interact with the city.
Traditional folding screen at Macao Museum (澳門博物館)
Every single graphic element on the screen is symbolic in my life: my house and doggies in South Beacon Hill; me sprinting to catch the 106 bus (now the 107 route); me breaking both my arms while biking on Beacon Avenue; me spending time at Benefit Park; my Popo, sister, and me waiting for the bus to go to Chinatown; the power lines along the Chief Sealth Trail; Daejeon Pavilion Park; my sister playing tennis at Jefferson Park; the shared viewpoints of our Seattle skyline from Jefferson Park and the Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge; a Cleveland High School Eagle landing in the Souf Seattle neighborhood; lion dancing and Seafair dragon runs on the streets of Chinatown; me riding the Sound Transit to UW; and my University’s four columns that represent four main features of LIFE: Loyalty, Industry, Efficiency, and Faith; and highlighting my favorite of these four pillars, Faith.
漢的屏風 - Original Drawing
漢的屏風 - Outline
The two different versions of my artwork that I created, “Spring-Autumn Festival” and “Emerald City,” use color combinations that represent the distinct seasons and reputations of the city. “Spring-Autumn Festival” combines the marvelous looks of Seattle’s fall and spring seasons into one “festival” fusion. “Emerald City” uses a color range of emerald and gold hues to epitomize this city’s status as the shining gem of the Pacific Northwest.
漢的屏風 - Spring-Autumn Festival
漢的屏風 - Emerald City
Ultimately, this screen symbolizes faith, thanks, and love for my community. I feel strong when I do something for my community because my community has done a lot for me, and has given me strength. I hope that young artists in my South Seattle community can keep producing art and elevating our neighborhood, because we advance together.