From South China to South London : a journey in search of home through fine art practice

Abstract

My research explores issues of cultural identity. What does it mean to be of Chinese ethnicity and living in Britain today? I employ autobiography as my methodology, using my artworks to examine questions such as where do I belong and how do I fit in the world? My research is conducted primarily in studio practice with a written element of twenty-five per cent in support of that practice.

When we think of the Chinese in Britain, one of the primary images that come to mind is the Chinese takeaway/restaurant. I have therefore elected to focus on Chinese food, not only as subject matter but also as the raw ingredients with which to make artwork. I argue that Chinese food can be employed as the tool with which to interrogate British-Chinese relationships. In order to do this I have looked at the interchanges between the two countries, examined the rise of the Chinese stereotype in the West and suggested that the shared site of appropriation might hold the key to the making of British-Chinese identity. I discuss the strategies that I use and the subversive actions I carry out to overcome British cultural barriers.

With regard to British-Chinese Art, I cite the formation of the ‘Number Six’ art group as the birth of this movement and also look towards current Hong Kong artists for guidance. As the British-Chinese movement is in its infancy, I have turned to the more established scholarship coming out of the Black-British community and used its critical writing and debates to inform the making of a new British-Chinese identity.

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