My artwork is influenced by the crisp graphic appearance of the Chinese folk art of paper cut as it appeals to my sensibility as a printmaker. It is a blending of my interpretations of traditional Chinese designs into personalized figurative compositions. The paper cut designs appear as textures and patterns that meld and surround the figure. The combination of the paper cut with other media shifts the idea of space to be both dimensional and flat. The use of pattern (printed and cut out) depicts the figure as it exists in an ephemeral state, in a place between reality and the mystical. The delicate lines merge with bold shapes and color to create visual movement and vibration. The combination and interaction of the layers of paper cuts create complex and unpredictable visual space and depth.

The still figure exists in a state of chaos and commotion as if caught in turbulent waves or stormy winds. Patterns and imagery attach themselves to the figure and surround it at the same time. This represents the duality of my existence as a Chinese American. I teeter between how Chinese and American I am and how this ratio of cultural identity is perceived by others. My physical appearance, actions and the way I speak are judged and evaluated. The red latticework is the stable entity, the geometric severity straining to contain the visual hodgepodge. My work represents my history and the journey of who I am: my past, present and where I may go.