Kaiyi Huang
Fruits of Our Labour
Kaiyi is a Kiwi-Asian who practices in Tamaki Makaurau. She finds interest in the history of
the first Chinese settlers who arrived in New Zealand in the early 1800s. Since their arrival,
the Chinese have been discriminated against in New Zealand. As a Chinese diaspora growing up in Auckland, Kaiyi has found fragments of the past that have influenced her upbringing.
Kaiyi went to a school with a small Asian population. There, she experienced prejudice and a cultural crisis between her own ethnic group and that of her cohort. Although life was tough, she has chosen to forgive and educate those who do not understand the Chinese culture by connecting people with the power of food. Hence, her digital animation and sculptures aim to portray the essence of family warmth, and festive gatherings and bring a meditative experience.
