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| "Bravery," by Julie Tián. |
Artist's Note
I decided to approach this project from my lived experience as a first-generation immigrant from Northern China. My parents and I immigrated to Canada when I was 7 years old. I wanted to explore how my upbringing and relationship with my family informs the way I navigate the world in the context of the Grandparent Teachings.
When I reflect on what Bravery is and how it exists in my life, I realized my interpretation of Bravery is shaped by my Chinese upbringing and that it comes in a very different form. Growing up, Bravery is taught as a virtue in stories - being a hero and standing up for things. But in practice, I felt the depiction of Bravery we were taught was discouraged, and that it wasn’t a desirable virtue. This was out of a fear of standing out and getting hurt when you don’t have to.
But in many ways my mom is the bravest person I know.
I think Bravery exists in my culture but in a quieter way. It’s not one big act or moment, it’s more of a series of quiet decisions and continuous commitment to something important. My mom made decisions which required her to be resilient for a long time, and still even. On a parallel, as a queer person, I have chosen to live as one and even though it’s not always visible, it impacts so much of what I experience and the people around me.
Both my mom and I were aware of the risks and sacrifices but we both made difficult decisions for love, really, and that’s the way Bravery exists in my life. So, my interpretation of Bravery is a series of quiet decisions, which spread and reaches further than it seems.
I decided to approach this project from my lived experience as a first-generation immigrant from Northern China. My parents and I immigrated to Canada when I was 7 years old. I wanted to explore how my upbringing and relationship with my family informs the way I navigate the world in the context of the Grandparent Teachings.
When I reflect on what Bravery is and how it exists in my life, I realized my interpretation of Bravery is shaped by my Chinese upbringing and that it comes in a very different form. Growing up, Bravery is taught as a virtue in stories - being a hero and standing up for things. But in practice, I felt the depiction of Bravery we were taught was discouraged, and that it wasn’t a desirable virtue. This was out of a fear of standing out and getting hurt when you don’t have to.
But in many ways my mom is the bravest person I know.
I think Bravery exists in my culture but in a quieter way. It’s not one big act or moment, it’s more of a series of quiet decisions and continuous commitment to something important. My mom made decisions which required her to be resilient for a long time, and still even. On a parallel, as a queer person, I have chosen to live as one and even though it’s not always visible, it impacts so much of what I experience and the people around me.
Both my mom and I were aware of the risks and sacrifices but we both made difficult decisions for love, really, and that’s the way Bravery exists in my life. So, my interpretation of Bravery is a series of quiet decisions, which spread and reaches further than it seems.