Stitching It Together

Illustration Series. 2023.

Stitching It Together is an illustration series about the shift of my cultural identity throughout the years after my immigration from China to Canada. 

2002

I was born in China.

Growing up in a homogeneous environment, I saw reflections of myself in everyone around me.

My world was simple.

2010

I moved to Canada.

Things began to unthread.

New language,
new environment,
new friends.

I easily took apart what was already existing.

2013

I adjusted to my new world.

One that operated in English,
one that watched the Disney Channel,
one that had recess everyday at 10am and 2pm.

I readily accepted all the changes.

I took in everything I saw to construct a new me,
one that belonged in this new world.

2020

Just as the world went into lockdown,
I started university.

I entered a bubble.

The online world transported me back to China,
and my life in Canada was put on pause.
The more I took in,
the more it disrupted the harmony.
My two identities were fighting.

The reflection of myself in my peers began to blur,
until it disappeared all together.

2023

I stopped chasing after that singular,
unconditionally,
perfect identity. 

The broken bits and pieces together 
make up one complete me, 
one that only belongs in my own special world.

And for now, 
that seems to be okay.