2024 ShowOff! Artwork Elise Su

Portrait

In the artwork "A Cultural Alienation", I wanted to convey the conflicting sides of my identity being both Canadian and Chinese. For instance, the blue light on the left of the painting symbolizes the extent Western influence has had on my life, while the right side of my face (with subtle light pink highlights) represents my Chinese identity, further exemplified by the traditional pattern in the background. The hands are representative of change and alienation. This painting is meant to convey a message that we should not try to change who we are in order to conform to society (hence the hands), but should instead embrace our identity and cultures, despite the challenges it may bring. As for the actual artwork, it is an oil on canvas painting.