“Yes, But There’s More” reflects the mix between my Chinese and American identities, and that although origin has importance, you should also dip your toes in the culture prevalent in where you live currently.
The concept comes from rhetoric in my community and on social media to avoid being seen as “too American” at all costs as a person of color. There is a common belief that the United States is a melting pot and has no unique culture itself whatsoever, taking up empty space in your identity. In fact, bringing up the “-American” suffix in “Chinese-American” risks a label — “whitewashed.” We are excessively pushed to study up on our origin and ethnicity for fear of disconnection from it.
The balance between my two cultural halves are shown in my painting. While I wear the Chinese qipao, accompanied by a traditional dragon, I look in a different direction, showing there is more out of frame than just my Chinese side. As a Chinese American, my fluency in Mandarin astonishes natives, I am well versed in its traditions, and I dutifully fly to China almost every year. But this perspective struck a chord with me, because I equally receive praise from English literature teachers, bury myself in American history and law, and cherish Sunnyvale, California as the diverse home it is. No one needs to bring out forced culture to fight against an American identity, as if it would conquer your heritage. Instead of one “washing” the other out, both cultures can coexist.
