Language, Memory, Place: Released from the Banyan Tree

March, 2020

Growing up in Hong Kong, the presence of banyan trees left a deep impression on me. Able to grow in varied conditions, these trees are said to symbolize longevity and perseverance. As they search outward for sources to sustain life, their spindly roots cascade down and around structures in their quest for nutrition and water. In some cases, nature and the built environment strike a balance, and in others, the former is subsumed. The banyan tree has become symbolic of my experience of feeling uprooted when my family and I moved continents.

"Released from the Banyan Tree" explores the concept of home as defined by the comfort found within oneself. It both narrates my own journeys as well as those of select others and invites viewers to reflect on how their own bodies respond to and interpret environments. Situated within a larger body of work titled "Language, Memory, Place," this project is the culmination of my research into the extent physical environments affect internalized experiences, interpersonal relationships, and living wholly.