Entrapment
Ziqi Z.
Digital art
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This piece sheds light on the struggles of Asian restaurant workers, inviting viewers to recognize the humanity behind their services often taken for granted. Immigrants often cannot receive a proper education or move up the social mobility ladder. Due to these financial and language barriers, many are stuck working at restaurants and compelled to prepare Asian food tailored to American tastes. The fish tank symbolizes invisible entrapment, a confined space where the workers are submerged in the endless demand and monotony of their labor, disconnected from opportunities outside. The two waitresses, dressed in traditional garments, represent the clash between cultural pride and the sacrifices they make to survive. The floating receipts in the background evoke the commodification of their efforts, reducing their identity to the food they serve.
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Creativity is a powerful means of conveying important messages and solving internal struggles, manipulated artfully using colors and perspectives.
