Self-Portrait, Tribute Tea

In Collections: Creativity in the Time of COVID-19

Copyright Status: In Copyright

Date: 2019/2022

Artists: Chan, Catherine

Subjects: COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020- , in art

Material Type: Digital art (visual works)
Paintings (visual works)

Language: No linguistic content

Extent: 2 digital paintings

Exhibit Label: Tribute tea (or Gong Cha) originated from ancient China, where it stood as the best of the best teas and was used to present to the Emperor. This same type of respect needs to be granted to our elderly. During the pandemic, hate crimes and violence against the Asian community spiked around the world. This narrative portrait captures a moment in my memory where I had the opportunity to pay respect to my grandmother. There is no place for racism and hate in our society especially towards those that cannot fight back. These individuals deserve our utmost respect. Mothers became the default solution to this pandemic crisis. This piece represents the need to escape for mothers during this pandemic when there is no time to pause. The self-portrait shows my face partially submerged in water in the tub surrounded by my children's toys. This is to convey the realities of anxiety, exhaustion, and stress from being a mother during these times. --Label design by exhibit curator Nancy DeJoy. Labels written by Ben Lash and his team in consultation with artist statements.

Permalink: https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5cf9n77m

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1 of 2: Tribute Tea

A digital painting of an elderly Asian woman being presented with a cup of tea. The woman is sitting in a large black chair with a pillow behind her. She has short gray hair, round golden glasses, pearl earrings, a gray floral embroidered pantsuit, and a wide smile. On the opposite side of the brown table, a younger Asian woman hands over the glass teacup on a small white plate. She is reaching out towards the elderly woman from the right, and has her back to the viewer so only the pearl earring in her left ear is visible. Due to the soft painting style, the background is a blur of blues, pinks, and yellows that look like reflections on the wall.

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Extent: 1 digital painting

Permalink: https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5j10057v

2 of 2: Self-Portrait

A digital painting of a woman's face partially submerged in water in a tub, surrounded by water toys. The woman is Asian with black hair, dark brown eyes, and a small mole directly below her slightly parted lips. Her halo of hair swirls as light reflects off the toys leaving tones of purple, green, and yellow across her face.

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Extent: 1 digital painting

Permalink: https://n2t.net/ark:/85335/m5jq0ww5z