In my work, I aim to capture the fleeting nature of memory through a lens of long lasting connection - family. As a child of immigrants, I attempt to process the linguistic and cultural barriers between me and my family through nostalgic, joyful scenes. In my paintings, I want to not only portray the beauty of homes like my grandparents’ garden, but also the bittersweet emotions that these places evoke. 
        I choose to use watercolor as my primary medium because of its organic flow. Instead of fighting against the unruly nature of watercolor, I want to embrace it, appreciate it, and highlight it in my work, while still maintaining harmony with my own visions of how I want a painting to look. I don’t want my art to rely on control, but rather a communicative, give and take process between me and my material. I also aim to emphasize the nature of watercolor because its faded, dreamlike look reflects the themes of memory present in my work.
        My art has evolved from observational still life and figure drawing into more colorful watercolor paintings of old family photographs, which better reflect my memories and emotions. Today, I am attempting to challenge the divides I feel around my extended family. I want to find ways to build bridges in my art, and use observational painting from old photos as a way to express gratitude to my family’s memories.