Innovations

Planning to create a triptych showing three core things I imagine the Chinese community must be feeling; two are fear based, one external, one internal, and the last one is hope - Feeling the external xenophobia, fear, hate, boxing them in, racism, rumours - Guilt, fear for their country and loved ones, trying to get home, working hard without reward, tirelessly facing terrible conditions, ploughing forwards despite everything - Inner strength, descended from dragons, gold, fortune, luck, hope. "In the darkest of times, hope is something you give yourself. That is the true meaning of inner strength" - Uncle Iroh (avatar)

Looking at the time around which the Chinese community was present, the rampant xenophobia and everything that was going on back in their homeland of China, the people there must have felt horribly isolated. Between the late 1800's to the mid 1900's was the fall of the feudal system, British colonies forcing China to sign over the allegiance followed by their eventual rebellion and independence. The occupancy of the Japanese and the slaughter of millions of Chinese people, later the rise of communism. A lot was going on and I can only imagine the fear and guilt of not being with their families but hearing all about the terror. That, coupled with the racism and general neglect and out-casting by other Wellingtonians, would have left the Chinese community feeling isolated and fearful, seeking safety and comfort in their communities. Also it seems Wellington wasn't the richest area for gold mining, which was the original reason for many Chinese settlers to come across. The...

Pixel art is something I've always wanted to try and thought was really cool but never have before. Didn't realise quite how simple it was!!