East Wind: West Wind

East Wind: West Wind

"East Wind: West Wind" commenced its journey amidst the kaleidoscope of Chinese students' experiences in Western realms. Embarking upon this odyssey in early 2020 from Vancouver, it soon unfurled its wings across North America. Within its tapestry, one finds an intricate interplay of handwritten interview transcripts and evocative portraits, all bearing witness to the diverse narratives woven by Chinese students who study abroad.

The interviews, a triptych of inquiries, sought to illuminate the nuanced contours of these students' lives. The questions posed probed at the essence of interactions within foreign landscapes: their impressions of the temporary "home," the intricate affinity between their Chinese identity and their interactions with the local culture, and the profound significance of their Chineseness in this novel milieu.

At its inception, my creative vision for this project was nothing short of iconoclastic—a defiant stance against the shackles of stereotypes and the perils of essentialism. However, as the project unfurled and the voices of these students resounded, a remarkable transformation took place. The mosaic of texts and portraits began to coalesce, forming a narrative imbued with a collective identity. Herein lies the tale of cultural dissonance, as experienced by Chinese millennials, as it weaves its way through the labyrinthine corridors of their inner landscapes, intertwining with their perceptions of the environments they inhabit.

The resulting amalgamation of images and texts aspires to render a profound chronicle—a vivid tapestry of personal histories, resolute human agency, and the profound psychological metamorphosis that unfolds during their sojourn in foreign lands. The research and investigation of the work attempt to delve deep into the complexities of cultural understanding and multifaceted perspectives that reflect the myths that have emerged in the dynamic interplay of East and West.