For me, art should not exist in the palace but a genuine concern for people’s living situations. Artists are not idols but chroniclers of ordinary life. I’ve watched people’s reactions to a movie packed with streaming stars and special effects in theaters, and most people probably watch it for visual entertainment. However, the documentary market is exceptionally scarce because people do not want to spend two hours exploring real life. Since childhood, I have been a perceptual and curious person, and I am keen to find the concept of art in daily life and delve deeply into its social significance. As the most authentic media means to record life, I think video, after artistic treatment, can perfectly convey the experience of a social group and the eternal truth behind every ordinary life.
When I first came to the United States at the age of 16, I entered the Chinese community as an insider. The Identities of the Chinese community around me are diverse and complex. They may be international students or have already worked in the United States. They may retain Chinese nationality or have emigrated. These ethnic Chinese in different fields have played an indispensable role in American business, arts, and education. And they have made various achievements that have shaped modern America. According to the research, modern America has changed the stereotype of Chinese underclass workers in history. But I still read about the negative image of the Chinese community as “permanent outsiders” in specific media reports; I couldn’t help but think that perhaps few people understand the life experience of the Chinese community. On the one hand, they go to work or study in a country with a completely different cultural background, far from their hometown, and suffer loneliness and pressure in life. On the other hand, they still choose to try to integrate into America and overcome the obstacles they face as “outsiders” in their way.
I am in this unique community, and I am experiencing the ordinary life of every Chinese. I strongly desire to express this different life experience as artistic material. How did the Chinese community gains wide recognition in another country over time? I will use the lens to present the current situation, struggle, confusion, and sense of the existence of the Chinese community in contemporary American society. The three protagonists in the documentary show their gradual adaptation to the American cultural environment from multiple perspectives. It is undeniable that what supports them to keep going in life is their inner strength to keep positive and courageous.
Life is tough for everyone, and dreams are not unique to the Chinese community. Based on showing the natural and delicate life of the Chinese community, I hope to transfer this positive power to everyone in society. Video media artistically record the Chinese community and explore the social meaning of different lives. Maybe you are not a member of this group, but you must be working hard in your field, facing your difficulties and obstacles, and never giving up on running forward.