Artist statement

Dirty Laundry is an autobiographical installation inspired by whimsical secrets passed down through my Chinese family lineage. The two-part installation, featuring two-dimensional and three-dimensional elements, comprises three historically referenced self-portraits and a collection of paper chatterboxes made from the printed photographs. Personal relationships inherited intergenerationally reconstruct my Chinese heritage of migrant hawkers and launderers to inform the portraits. The chatterboxes, originally used as spice containers in Chinese kitchens, reference child’s play through a dual metaphor symbolising both the naivety and innocence of new generations, as well as the nostalgia tucked away in the hidden folds of past family secrets. The act of unfolding the chatterbox draws an analogy to airing ‘dirty laundry’, allowing the artist and audience to reflect on the perception of family ties versus the reality of family lineage.

Process

The artwork began with a self-portraiture photography shoot. Selected photos were then imported into Procreate and layered and manipulated to achieve the desired outcome. Digital images were imported into a chatterbox template and fragmented. Final designs were printed on art cartridge paper and folded into chatterboxes.

About the artist

I am motivated and inspired by social and cultural values and beliefs that emanate from my own personal and cultural history. I have Chinese heritage and this has heavily influenced my work *Dirty Laundry*.