I often walk around the city at night. It is a way for me to have some alone time to figure things out, whether about myself or the world around me.
This graphic novel excerpt is inspired by one of my “journeys”. I was applying to colleges and was confused about my identity and my future.
Do I Belong Here?
I often ask myself this question, especially recently, when I came to New York all the way from Beijing.
I guess Cleopatra’s Needle, standing in Central Park, also asks itself this question. This monument, created during the 18th dynasty in Egypt, viewed by Augustus Caesar as a symbol of his victory, is standing in solitude in Central park without proper protection. In 2011, one of the officials in Egypt even threatened to take back the obelisk if it’s not properly cared for.
I talked to many people about this sense of misfit, and how can I defeat it. I remember one of my audiences, someone who I barely know, told me – You can never defeat it. She said she lived with this sense of estrangement for 30 years, but at some point, she embraced it and made it a part of her.
I hope you can enjoy this piece.
Caitlin was born and raised in Beijing, China. In 2018, her work was exhibited in the Metamorphosis Charity Exhibition in the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in the 798 art district. Caitlin moved to New York City in 2019 to study illustration at Parsons School of Design.
Caitlin works across mediums and specializes in illustration and comics. Her work consists of many symbols, inspired by the hazy style of the Chinese misty poets. The subject of her art is usually herself, ranging from her stories, her emotions, her identity, and her culture.
During her time in the US, Caitlin’s art has been featured in the 12th Street Literary Magazine and the Collaborative Clarinet in a Concert Exhibition between Mannes School of Music, New York Youth Symphony, and Parsons School of Design.
More of Caitlin’s work can be found on her instagram @phantalism or on her website.
Like this:
Like Loading...
