This series is the first in a series of paintings inspired by 90s Hong Kong film. Within the past two decades, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean dramas have become increasingly popular internationally and in the west. The imagery of the uniforms have almost become synonymous with thoughts of East Asia. With the rapid development of East Asia and the exportation of its culture, I wanted to explore what that imagery would look like in more traditional medium and what it might mean. In this piece, the couple form an alliance, pledging allegiance not to a nation, culture, or ideology, but rather to the other’s heart.

I Pledge Allegiance to Your Heart (2024) - 36”x 48”. Oil paint and oil stick on canvas.