The Asia Issue: Art Roundup

Each issue we feature art created by Asian women around the world. Here are this issue’s pieces!

Meghana Narayan
Pieces (L to R): “Unveiled I”, “Unveiled II”, “Wanderess Waiting”
Medium (L to R): 20 x 24 Acrylic + Sari Fabric on Birch Panel, 24 x 36 Acrylic + Sari Fabric on Canvas, 23 x 26 Acrylic + Charcoal + Oil Pastel on Canvas
IG: @paint.the.rain // Website: www.meghannarayan.com

“The Plight of Elephas” by Manya Awal
IG: @manya.awal5
"Moved by the dwindling population of elephants, this piece depicts the bloodshed and the edging of the species of elephants towards extinction.”

Medium: black pen and red inks on canson paper

“Coffee shop” by Nina Song
Medium: Digital and print

IG: @jinjoojpeg

Artist (above): Ann Liu // IG: @acrylicpaintshorty // Store // Portfolio

"not ur asian babygirl"(Right)
"The stereotype of the “asian babygirl” or as abbreviated, “ABG”, has been used to label asian womxn of a particular aesthetic (i.e. wearing heavy makeup, going to raves, and drinking bubble tea). Ann Liu’s work confronts this fetishization and categorization of an entire group of womxn, and demonstrates that not only is “ABG” not a valid identity, but is insulting and demeaning. As a result of stereotyping and colonization, Asian womxn have already suffered thousands of years of abuse and hypersexualization; though times have changed, the modern day equivalent of discriminating womxn based on appearance and other characteristics still perpetuates. The artist refuses to succumb to this gross idealization of her ethnic group and expresses her true identity through this work. She demonstrates pride in her cultural heritage; it gives her strength, and she renounces the stereotype that society might be eager and quick to label her as. "
Mixed Media (12x18 in.) 2018

"Death"(Left)
"When the Death card shows up in your life, it serves as the entry point into a new phase of enlightenment. Light needs Dark, Joy derives from Pain, & Life exists alongside Death. Death may be scary but it is NOT bad, it marks a REBIRTH, the end of a path, relationships, or patterns that do not serve your Higher Self. A time for spiritual growth, recalibration, metamorphosis, & deeper meanings. After losing someone deeply beloved to me, I had fallen into a very stagnant place - reliving many traumas, addictive patterns, karmic cycles... existing in a limbo. Death confronted me & coerced me through a painful phase of healing
& rebirth."
Acrylic paint, enamel paint, & glitter on canvas (16x20 in.) 2020

Rachel Cheong
Pieces (L to R): “Virgo” and “Aries”
Medium: digital
IG: @rachelsummercheong

Keidi Teng (above)
IG: @keiditeng // Website:  www.keiditeng.com
Pieces (L to R):
“Juicy” (digital)
“Oranges are a symbol in Chinese culture of gold, affluence, and prosperity. I created this piece to illustrate the tension Asian-Americans experience when faced with the choice to toss away certain segments of their Asian identity and embrace Western ideals.”
“Send Noods” (digital)
”"You're Chinese? Huh. You don't look Chinese. That wasn't my guess." So many patronizing implications in one ostensibly innocuous exchange. Only it's not one. And it actually can be very harmful. What characteristics must one possess to qualify to "look Asian"? Asian and Asian-American womxn have historically been painted with broad strokes: Exotic. Submissive. Hypersexual. But their beauty and sexuality is seldomly their own. I seek to redefine what it means to "look Asian" and to depict my subjects as sensual beings, in hopes that all womxn can feel empowered to express and embrace their sexuality on their own terms rather than those laid out for them by society.”

'Subtle Elegance' by Kritika Negi // IG: @thequirkyart
Medium: watercolors and digital

This is piece is inspired by Rupi Kaur's poem:
"I am of the earth,
and to the earth, I shall return once more,
life and death are old friends,
and I am the conversation between them,
I am absolute, I am exquisite,
I am their late-night chatter,
their laughter and tears,
what is there to be afraid of,
if I am the gift they gave to each other,
This place never belonged to me anyway,
I have always been theirs..."

"I choose this Rupi Kaur's poem as a representation of my artwork because I wanted to highlight the beauty of women in a more natural way. To me, this poem instantly depicts the connection between mother earth and the existence of a woman's body and soul. Despite any religion, area, caste, creed, or color, a woman is an exquisite gift that an epitome of beauty, elegance, and love. "

"Halo-Halong Singkit" by Nikiya Kiara
IG: @paintandpalate.nkbc
Medium: Watercolor & Acrylic on Mixed Media Paper
"Halo-Halong Singkit" dives into my colorful culture, heritage, and identity (including the good and bad that have come from colonialism, history, and politics) that all very commonly get diluted, in the face of non-Asians, into the stereotype/categorization of "Asian" simply due to the appearance my "singkit" eyes.”