To Whom it May Concern

My thesis, "To Whom It May Concern," documents a deeply personal and artistic journey, born from the Hong Kong diaspora and my subsequent arrival as a newcomer in Canada. The title, a formal address without a specified recipient, powerfully echoes my core inquiry: How does one find and assert one's voice when initially feeling like an "invisible man" in an unfamiliar landscape, and what is its place within collective memories? This MFA program provided the essential container and intellectual framework for this profound exploration, allowing my own body to become a primary material for both introspective dialogue and public assertion, where this nascent voice could truly take shape. Through my engagement with image-making, from carefully staged photographs and deliberate video performances to interventions in public spaces, I navigated the emotional complexities of displacement, from initial confusion to a persistent longing. This artistic practice, deeply connected with the intimate ritual of collecting and responding to vintage postcards, became a means of both personal reflection and memory-making. These personal narratives, in turn, subtly tap into broader themes of collective memories and shared experiences of adaptation within the diaspora, functioning as a private diary for an open ended "concern." Ultimately, this thesis explores the space between individual experience and the hope for collective resonance. It is an act of transforming temporary feelings of being a newcomer into undeniable forms of presence, not merely by telling a personal story, but by allowing a distinct character to build relationships with the outside world through various modes of communication. This creative endeavour shapes a unique voice and a shared cultural background, rooted in evolving memories. It continually questions if, and for whom, these stories are truly heard, and underscores the inherent value of their articulation.