Photography & Digital Art,Visual ArtMAR 24, 2023

I Wanted To Highlight Stereotypes, Micro-Aggressions And Other Struggles The Asian-American Community Faces With 11 Cute Illustrations

Jasmine Nguyen Gutierrez and Gabrielė Malukaitė

Chinatown Confessions is a charming illustrated art series about my honest feelings and experiences as an Asian American navigating stereotypes, microaggressions, and other struggles our community faces.

I made this to share my frustrations about the rise in violence against Asians, due to the pandemic, in an approachable format without diluting the truth. I noticed a lack of discussion about the issue in the news and among my circle of friends.

Having conversations about racism can be uncomfortable, so I thought using cute art would capture people's attention while leaving them with an important message to reflect on.

Illustrated subjects are inspired by items you'd commonly find in Chinatown, while the hand-lettered phrases are inspired by my personal experiences or by others in the Asian-American community.

More info: Instagram | jazgtzdesign.creator-spring.com | jazgtzdesign.com

#1 I'm From Here (Now Leave Me Alone)

A few years back someone came up to me to make small talk and eventually the conversation arrived at "Where are you from?" I told them I was from Texas. They then changed their phrasing to "Where are you REALLY from? Like where were you born?" I answered California. They didn't seem to like my response because they looked at me both confused and uncomfortable.

After some awkward silence, they tried again and asked "Where are your parents from?" It finally clicked for me what this person was trying to get at. I told them Vietnam and they lit up and said "Cool!"

I shared with someone close to me about this situation and they laughed and said "Don't give them such a hard time, you know what they were trying to ask!" But I honestly didn't. And also why aren't my feelings considered? Because asking me "Where are you REALLY from" feels like I don't belong here. I might not be white but I'm still an American. There's nothing wrong with being curious about someone else's culture. I don't think we should be 'color-blind'. But we should be open to understanding how to have better conversations about race and culture.

79points

In 2018, I felt burnt out in my social work career. My therapist at the time encouraged me to explore other careers based off of my interests so I began pursuing design. I've always had an interest in the arts as a child and originally wanted to study graphic design in college but was discouraged to pursue it. In 2020, I became a new mom and was on maternity leave from my two jobs as a graphic designer. During those 3 months, I began drawing in between my newborn's naps as a fun hobby. In 2022, I decided to focus more on illustration and work for myself.

#2 I'll Cry If I Want To

Growing up in an Asian family for me meant that shedding tears revealed a sort of weakness, which wasn't okay. But I'm learning to unlearn this. It's okay to ask for help. It's okay to fall apart. It's okay to cry.

73points

#3 Not Future Doctor (Sorry Mom)

It was conflicting. I wanted to make my mother proud but I also wanted to follow my dreams. My personal story is that I was encouraged to stay away from choosing a creative career because a career in creativity isn't a career at all.

I was allowed to be creative as a hobby, but as a real career, I needed to pick something more substantial. So I stopped drawing, and just focused on trying to make my mom proud but I eventually stopped doing that too and pursued a life that I needed for myself.

I'm thankful in the end my mom came around to be proud of me in different ways.

62points

A lot of people, both Asian and Non-Asian, have told me Chinatown Confessions resonated with them deeply. A few have shared with me their own painful memories when they felt rejected and insulted for their culture/appearance. When I sell stickers or art prints of Chinatown Confessions at pop-up markets, people would bust out laughing and get really excited. My work has been described as "cute and sassy". It makes me really happy seeing people feel connected to something I created, and that the message isn't just meaningful to me but to others too.

#4 No, You Open Your Eyes

Dear racist person, my eyes may be small, but so is your mind. I've been called "Chink" and "Chinese girl"; people have slanted their eyes and yelled 'Asian' gibberish to my face. I've been told "You must be good at (insert stereotype activity)" based solely on my race and not my actual skills/hard work.

What I hate more than the experiences was that I minimized it; I made excuses for people who lacked cultural awareness and sensitivity by trying to convince myself that they were just trying to be funny. I even laughed with them so I wouldn't make them feel uncomfortable despite the fact that I was very hurt. But words and actions like these aren't funny or beneficial; they're RACIST and NOT okay.

58points

#5 Please Learn To Say My Name (Or Don't Talk To Me)

No, I don't have another name that you can call me instead because you won't take the time to correctly pronounce my birth name. And if you're not willing to just learn my name, why bother learning anything else about me? So bye.

57points

My major inspiration is from my childhood and feelings, Asian-American culture, and experience with mental/spiritual health. I'm also influenced by cartoons/anime that I love including Sanrio, Sailor Moon, Bee and Puppycat, and Studio Ghibli films. I use art as an outlet for myself to be vulnerable and heal; my hopes are that it can be healing for someone else too. If we don't reveal our hurts, we can't heal from our hurts. I really enjoy creating playful yet meaningful illustrations that have a story behind it, and inspiring others to be the healthiest and most authentic versions of themselves.

#6 Stop Assuming We're All Chinese

Seriously though. Asian does not always equal Chinese. We're not a monolith (a group of people who are thought of as being all the same).

55points

#7 My Food Isn't Weird (You Are)

While it may seem innocent, teasing about my culture's food means you're actually teasing me. You don't have to like it, but you don't have to be rude about it. I have multiple memories from childhood, and even into adulthood, of feeling like an outsider when I brought food from home; the weird side looks, the snickering behind my back, and the snarky comments like "You eat THAT?"

I may seem weird for eating different foods but I think they're also weird for not trying different foods.

51points

What makes me passionate about the work I do is for the opportunity to spread a message that makes people feel loved, seen, and cared for. I think it's easy to feel alone and hopeless in this sometimes scary and hurtful world, but if my work can resonate with someone and help them remember that they're worthy and capable of great things then I feel I've accomplished my mission. I just want to be able to be a light in someone's dark day or even season.

#8 I Can Be Soft And Strong

Mental health isn't often a popular topic of discussion in Asian households; talking about anything that might display someone's weakness was avoided. So that's why I didn't go to counseling for the first time until I was 24 years old. There was something my therapist said that has remained with me to this day; "You can be assertive without being aggressive."

Growing up, I saw hurt feelings covered up by anger and expressed by hurting the other person's back. The concept of gently, yet still honestly, telling someone your needs, hurt, and insecurities without starting a war seemed unheard of. But being married to someone with a different, and healthier, perspective will challenge you to realize that speaking harshly in anger doesn't make you stronger than someone else. In fact, there can be strength in your gentleness.

Choosing to have self-control with your words and actions, not backing down from confronting a problem, and sharing your feelings to heal not hide... that's a real strength.

43points

#9 Worthy Of Love And Respect

I'm worthy of love and respect because I love and respect myself. Anyone that tells me otherwise isn't worthy of my time.

39points

I've been doing a lot of pop-up markets selling handmade stickers, stationery and prints in the Austin, TX area. In the summer I plan on taking a break from markets to focus on learning new ways to create, network, and figure out how to sell wholesale, while doing a few freelance projects on the side.

#10 Proud Of Me

I don't need to wait for someone to tell me I did a good job to prove that I did a good job. I also don't need to wait to accomplish something worthy in someone else's eyes to feel like I accomplished something.

Sometimes giving my 100% looks different each day and that's okay. One day I'm super productive and finished everything from my to-do list. Awesome. The next day I woke up and just stayed alive. Also awesome.

38points

#11 I Don't Need To Prove My Worth

If I tried to convince everyone I was worthy, I'll quickly be disappointed. Everyone has a different way of measuring everything, so I shouldn't even bother. I choose to live FROM a place of love and worth instead of FOR love and worth. So next time my post didn't get that many likes, my text message was left on reading, or plans get canceled on me last minute, I remember that circumstances and people don't define my importance.

31points