What does it mean for a government to fail its people? While that question is complex and multifaceted, I can give an example on how a government fails its girls. This piece celebrates the tradition of protest and student protest in particular. As a Chinese adoptee, I am often asked why I am not more Chinese or why I don not know the language, and to that I answer “They failed me first”. The Chinese government and its enforcement of the infamous One Child Policy are the reasons why I am not living in China today. Mainly this piece acts as a protest to all of the girls of the world who are being failed by their governments.

My Protest (They Failed Us First) - 48”x 48”. Oil on canvas.