What does it mean for a government to fail its people? While that question is complex and multifaceted, I can give an example on how a government fails its girls. This piece celebrates the tradition of protest and student protest in particular. As a Chinese adoptee I am often asked why I am not more Chinese or why I don’t know the language and to that I answer “They failed me first”. The Chinese government is the reason why and the One Child Policy is the reason why I am not living in China today. It was because I was born a girl, that I was deemed unworthy to keep. This piece is a protest for all of the girls of the world that are continually being failed by their governments.

My Protest (They Failed Us First) - 48”x 48”. Oil on canvas.