Cheryl Tong — In Between Identities | 2020.ocadu.gd

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Cheryl Tong

In Between Identities

This thesis explores the frustrations and confusion I felt growing up and feeling out of touch with my Hong Kong heritage, while also struggling to feel included into the society of my immigrant country of Canada. This project serves as a constant reminder to myself that I am still learning and accepting parts of my culture and identity that I have tried to repress and ignore in the past. My cultural identity may have been shaped by the societal labels, expectations and ideals I’ve grown up surrounded by, but I alone have the power to shape a new one for myself.

Publication

Typography

Photography

The ‘Here & There’ zine represents my inner conflict of not truly belonging ‘here’ in Canada, where I grew up, or ‘there’ in Hong Kong, where I was born. It shows the traumatizing and hurtful reality that many Chinese-Canadians have to endure, from name calling and racism, to cultural insecurities.

The sticker and temporary tattoo sets were designed as a way to reclaim derogatory labels and stereotypes in order to form new identities. They also serve as reminders that words don’t define who we are. By reclaiming these words for ourselves, society can no longer use them against us.

The 'Made in Chinese-Canadian' sticker set is inspired by the "made in" tags typically found on our clothing.

The 'Ultimate Chinese-Canadian Starter Kit' sticker and temporary tattoo sets are inspired by common labels, stereotypes and racial slurs used towards Chinese-Canadians.

Similar to the sticker sets, this projection based photography series aims to create a conversation around Chinese immigrant identity and labels. By reclaiming cultural labels that Chinese-Canadians often hear, it represents how identity is something that we create for ourselves, not from how others label us.