This mixed media composition (pen outline and colored pencils on white paper) seeks to encapsulate my roommate Linh’s story with her family who immigrated from Vietnam to the Philippines, and eventually to California. For context, Linh’s father, Mr. Tran, was a refugee during the Vietnam war and had to escape by boat to the Philippines with other displaced people seeking asylum. They suffered through starvation on the journey there, to the extent of Mr. Tran biting off his middle finger just to have a source of food. After enduring this pain and finally reaching the United States, Linh’s family arrived in Little Saigon in hopes of better opportunities. When Linh’s family first arrived, they struggled financially, and had to live in one bedroom at their cousin’s house. In this artwork, the rainy setting (the blue raindrops) on a dark night (purple color) highlights a significant memory in Linh's life as her family enters their new home with multiple bedrooms. As seen in the right room of the artwork, Linh can finally have her own bed and privacy instead of sharing a mattress on the floor with three other people. This symbolizes the opening of more opportunities, by granting the luxury of having her own bed and privacy as a first step. The sign of the house saying “Welcome to Little Saigon” showcases the shared heritage in the community, with the red and yellow colors representing the Vietnamese flag colors. In the left room, Mr. Tran is portrayed as a resilient person, who currently works as a barber. His hands are highlighted, notably missing a middle finger, to serve as a reminder of the sacrifices that Mr. Tran had made as a refugee to get to America for a better future. This artwork attempts to exude a sense of hope, since the 10 year wait to America through the VISA lottery was worth it, comparatively to the life they had before.
Moving to San Diego has also been influential for Linh and her family, as she is able to attend UCSD, a privilege that her parents couldn't have but worked hard for her to achieve this opportunity. To conclude, the evolution from difficult pasts to promising futures for newer generations is parallel to other refugees residing in San Diego, and this artwork represents this through the perseverance of Linh’s family.
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