Artist Statement
My art centers individual and communal health narratives through oral histories and visual storytelling, exploring how health intersects with cultural identity, isolation, reflection, and healing. As both a public health practitioner and artist, I aim to bring awareness to experiences frequently overlooked in population-level health data, offering a more nuanced and human perspective on stigmatized health issues. My work also stems from my personal health journey and a desire to create community, combating the isolation often experienced in health struggles.
My artistic process begins with storytelling, conducting oral histories with community members and reflecting on my own personal experiences in regards to stigmatized health topics. Moments navigating mental health challenges, confronting intergenerational trauma, or grappling with fertility issues serve as raw foundations for my work. I abstract moments and themes from individual and collective stories and transform these into large-scale paintings or murals. Working primarily with acrylic paint, I sketch, paint, overlay symbols, and rework elements until an image emerges that captures the essence of these intricate and intimate experiences. Surrealist imagery, vibrant colors, and Asian symbolic elements blend together to reflect the complex nature of health, wellbeing, and identity.
Our journeys with our health, body, and mind can be profoundly isolating. I seek to create spaces where overlooked stories find resonance, fostering understanding and connection among viewers who may recognize their own experiences in my work. By cultivating personal and communal resonance through aesthetic experiences, I aim to catalyze both individual and collective healing.
Photo by Danny Peña