Crossing Cultures: Belle Yang, A Story of Immigration

Imagine a map of your life. Where are you going, and where have you been?

Exhibited from June 6, 2014 – August 24, 2014

Belle Yang, whose Chinese first name, Xuan, means “Forget Sorrow”, traces her path as a Chinese American immigrant through vibrant paintings, illustrations, and graphic novels.

Located on the 2nd Floor Solari Gallery, Belle narrates the story of her family’s journey from China to America with insight, wit, and humor. Born in Taiwan, Yang spent part of her childhood in Japan before immigrating with her family to the US at the age of seven. In an effort to reconnect with her parents’ mainland Chinese roots, and escape an abusive romantic relationship, Yang studied at the Beijing Academy of Traditional Chinese Painting, where she developed an appreciation and respect for traditional ink paintings and folk art. Belle's acquired fluency in Mandarin allowed her to unlock a colorful wealth of stories springing from her father and his ancestors.