A collection of artwork by young AAPINH and Black New Mexican artists who are a part of the third annual True NM program, an annual antiracism, youth-centered, arts-based project developed as a collaboration between New Mexico Asian Family Center and New Mexico Black Leadership Council.
My work focuses on the racial divide in the country and how we perceive each other with racism and prejudice and how we can counteract these things with solidarity and unity among our people.
“We want freedom by any means necessary. We want justice by any means necessary. We want equality by any means necessary.”- Malcom X
This piece represents the things in my life, things I enjoy, and how I feel sometimes.
What do I say inside
That I can’t find the words to say outside?
My work embodies what it’s like to be Asian-American: Stuck between two worlds. An outsider, an outcast.
“…a man without a country”
– Fred Korematsu
Eternity.
Pain.
Deception.
The bite of a snake digs deep,
with its venom seeping in.
Deeper…
and Deeper….
and Deeper….
Until you realize,
To save it you must sever it’s head
Rip the maw off it’s tail
Remove each fang from itself
Only then will it finally relax and release its powerful grip on reality; to be able to achieve a peaceful fate.
Even then, you can be alive and endlessly dying inside.
It’s fine to let go. Most times letting go can save a life.
After all your minds a broken record, slowly rotating
It screeches in a raspy and pitiful tone, almost like a solemn whisper begging to be heard.. Choked up in its own reality…
Save me…
Save me…..
S…a..v…..e….
M……e…….
Alethinophidia my Uroboros.
My savior and my tormentor.
My art comes from the desire to explore and celebrate my unique history and rich artistic heritage. I spent hours studying and researching Afghan fashion and textiles, immersing myself in my culture and traditions. I experimented with different techniques and materials, seeking to capture the essence of the dress that is authentic and true to my origins. Ultimately my art is a testament to my history and my desire to share its beauty and richness to others.
My art tries to show the classic gothic tropes. Author Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu are tales of original gothic works from the 18th century. Even if it’s old, it’s still new and exciting to me. The Gothic genre from the early 18th centuries is what resonates with me. Stories of that time are relevant to today’s life experiences as my own. Humans are the true monsters. A human who doesn’t act as a normal human, is hated, separated and even killed by other humans. When you’re an outsider by your own kind, you start to feel subhuman.
Art is a way of free expression and for many people, a voice. My piece is my voice. It is inspired from aspects of my own life. The different people in my piece represent the different ways POC get treated. My project reflects the sexualization as well as internalized racism brown people face from my own perspective and experiences.
My painting is a representation of the journey of an Afghan woman, a journey that is both physical and emotional. The physical journey involves the woman leaving behind her home, her family, and her familiar surroundings, and embarking on a perilous journey to a new land. The emotional journey involves the woman confronting her fears, doubts, and uncertainties, and finding the strength and courage to forge a new life for herself and her family.
I love art because it’s a way to express ones self and make into something visible to people’s eyes. It creates a door to escape from reality, even if it’s temporarily. My work is my way to express how I feel, when it comes to my culture. I have always wanted to live in Japan and do the things I love. And many people, including myself, find comfort in nature. It relaxes the mind and body looking at breathtaking views.
I drew the differences between cultures because I want to show everyone how big it is. There is a lot of ignorance in our country. I wanted to feel sorry for my country and the women who were deprived of their freedom.
My art piece depicts the message of migrant families on a long journey to America. The bright acrylic colors painted on cotton canvas shows each country has its individuality and beauty. In my case, I am a first-generation Vietnamese descendant, born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I decided to symbolize the traditional Vietnamese dress, áo dài, as a border between my birthplace ABQ and blood descent, Vietnam. My motivation is my parent’s hard work to build a life here; therefore, “Crossed Paths” is my creativity conveying their journey.
As an immigrant who came to the United States from Vietnam 10 years ago, I struggled to find my identity and purpose as a young Vietnamese boy in America. This piece tells the story of my immigration process, my culture, my state of mind, and my journey to finding Christ.
This collection of work was supported by the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund (2022-2023 Anti-Racism and Intersectional Justice Grant).
