In moments of upheaval, artists have always served as the visual pulse of their communities—translating complex emotions into messages of protest and care. I was honored to have my work featured in “Call and Response: Illustration in Uncertain Times,” an exhibition at the Pao Arts Center that brought together seven Boston-based AAPI artists to navigate the multi-layered challenges of the current era.
Curated by Leslie Anne Condon, the show highlighted how graphic design and illustration can respond to the rise of anti-Asian discrimination and the reverberations of the pandemic. For me, contributing to this collection was about more than just making art; it was about the “labor of care.”
By using our craft to speak to this complicated moment, we aimed to provide a visual voice for shared experiences — offering both a mirror for the community’s pain and a bridge toward collective healing. It was a privilege to stand alongside such a powerful group of local voices to prove that, even in uncertain times, art remains a critical act of solidarity.
