Junxi Yi

Age 11

Me in Chinese Traditional Dress, 2024

Oil pastel, nail polish and gem stickers on canvas | Unframed: 61 x 51cm

‘This portrait was inspired by a photo of me taken in Guizhou, China when I was back in China for Chinese New Year in February 2024, and we had a trip to different regions across the country. In China we have 56 ethnic nationalities, also called minzu, which are groups entitled to representation. Guizhou is a famous province in the Miao region. Miao has thousands of years of history, and this is their classic traditional dress called MiaoFu with a huge silver crown and jewellery. There is an amazing joyful sound when you walk or dance in this dress.’

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