Wailea Lu

Art helps me understand who I am and allows me to connect with my identity, my history, and the emotions that shape my everyday life

Drawing 2 explores the tension between Western beauty standards and my cultural beliefs. I am often teased for my big forehead, but painting myself beside a Chinese princess helped me reclaim something that once caused insecurity. My family always reminded me that in ancient China, large foreheads symbolized intelligence and good fortune. The imagery and soft colors convey both care and protection, while the flat, exaggerated stereotypes around us reveal how shallow and harmful those pressures can be. This piece represents both resistance and healing.