Title: Through the Barriers

Size: 45 x 38 cm

Material: canvas

Year: 2021

Price: 300 €

I created this piece in 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the world felt frozen, yet inside, I was drowning in emotions. I was trapped in a large apartment, facing the weight of isolation alone. But loneliness was not the only thing I carried. I was sexually assaulted by an old man across the street—a man who not only violated me but held deep hatred toward Black women. His racism and cruelty made the trauma cut even deeper.

For three months, I couldn’t sleep. My mind was restless, replaying the pain over and over. My family was in Hong Kong, far from my reach, and I missed them with every part of me. I also longed for the comfort of my ex-boyfriend, for anything that felt familiar, but all I had were my thoughts and the silence of empty rooms.

Art became my refuge. It helped me avoid drowning in loneliness. With every brushstroke, I faced my fears head-on. The intersecting lines in this painting symbolize the walls I felt around me—barriers of trauma, isolation, and discrimination. The deep greens and browns ground me in my reality, while the turquoise hues represent the hope I desperately held onto.

This piece is not just about pain—it’s about resilience. It’s a visual testament to how art saved me, how it gave me a voice when I felt voiceless, and how, even in the darkest moments, creativity became my way to survive