The role of art in exploration of self-identity

My Chinese-Canadian background provides the motivation for this essay. The notion of citizenship presents a multiplicity of complexities, including the concept of knowing one-self, the search for one’s roots, and the quest for a future.

I was born, raised, and educated in China, and am now living here as a citizen of Canada. This is simply enough, but behind it lies a story chock-full of life experiences. Ten years ago, I immigrated to Canada and started living in a new community. In my first years in Vancouver, I didn’t get the same pay as local employees. As a result, it took me years of struggling to find a new ethnic identity and my future. This experience prompted me to rethink my identity of citizenship.

The frustration and confusion made me greatly depressed. At my most difficult time, I met Ms. Wolf, an art teacher at South Hill Learning Center. I attended her class, and it was there that I first heard about the therapeutic program at Sherbrooke Community Center and became inspired by it and Ms. Wolf’s teaching philosophy.

We were all involved in our learning and practicing of art in a relaxed, non-judgmental, and free self-expressing environment. We were encouraged to make any art. The creation of art was aided by the background instrumental music. At the end of each class, each person would talk about her/his art and the meaning of it, offering a deep reflective moment. Ms. Wolf expressed her great appreciation and respect for her students by shaking everyone’s hand when they were about to leave the class. I witnessed the academic and personal growth in students.

Mid of the Sea was my first painting done in Ms. Wolf’s class, when I hadn’t painted anything for at least 10 years. With this painting, I started my journey of searching for identity through art and art education.

Mid of the Sea Painted in 2011by J. Chen   A boat floating nowhere in the sea symbolizes the loss of myself in the midst of cultural conflicts between Canadian and Chinese identity, and the quest for my own home place.

Dandelion  Painted in 2012 by J. Chen . As immigrants, we are like rootless dandelion seeds flying around to find the right place to plant ourselves.

Through the process of making art, my self-awareness has increased. My voice matters. Even if it cannot be heard by the public, it does make changes in my life. Art, as a tool, is for exploring complex ideas and perceptions about self-identity and relationship with self and others. In the artistic process, the painter, singer, dancer, musician, and writer are connected to the material world through their specific medium; they are connected to their inner self as the core of identity through their thoughts and emotions. It is a reflective and experimental activity which helps us to interpret idea and feeling, think about life meaning, heal inner self, and reconcile with others.

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