Entrapment

Created by Ziqi Zheng




"This piece sheds light on the struggles of Asian first-generation immigrants, 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. I morphed the bodies into one of interdependence: quiet resilience radiates from the mutual support between the minority individuals in entrapment."