The Very Asian movement
On New Year’s Day 2022, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and increasing anti-Asian sentiment, Asian-American journalist Michelle Li received a racist voicemail from a viewer lambasting her as “very Asian.” As I watched Michelle boldly flip that criticism into a rallying cry, I was deeply inspired.
In the days that followed, I illustrated some of the first #VeryAsian artwork featuring my favorite childhood treats from the Asian market.
The posts subsequently went viral and fueled a cultural movement and philanthropic efforts that continue to this day.
The first set of illustrations: White Rabbit candy; Meiji Hello Panda strawberry cookies; Calbee Shrimp Chips.
This is original artwork by independent artist Jackie Huang Linayao. Please do not use without permission.
My illustrations and work were widely reposted (including by a few notably community figures and even Michelle herself) and spurred many other artists to contribute and share their own perspectives in their work. There are several Very Asian-themed art shows today.
The second set of illustrations: Pocky cookies in chocolate and strawberry; Yan Yan cookies in chocolate and strawberry
After an overwhelming number of inquiries to purchase my illustrations, I opened up shops on Etsy and Redbubble in order to generate charitable funds for organizations focused on empowering individuals of Asian and Pacific Islander descent.
