“Attempting to juggle the many complex nuances of diasporic identities and cultural heritage, my work is a choice to celebrate ourselves, our relationships, and our joy. I’ve chosen to highlight some lovely people in the community around me, capturing casual moments in a playful and colourful format. Engaging with these moments and these individuals feels to me like an act of care and a way to document the energy of a complex ecosystem within a neighbourhood that may soon look very different.As Vivek Shraya explains in "How did the suffering of marginalized artists become so marketable?", while an artist’s trauma and history is entirely their own to express, often institutions place racialized artists in the position of constantly re-enacting that trauma as the only way in which to be considered “serious artists.” This project became a refusal to perform for the benefit and entertainment of institutional audiences, and the beginning of understanding who I want my art to be for and where I want it to exist. Started in 2019, this project reflects my own process coming into community. It is not meant to present the concept of "community" as a magical solution for racism, gentrification, and colonial culture. Communities are complicated, over-lapping, and ever changing. Learning to care for your community is a choice and an on-going practice. ”