Xiaoxiao Strong

Artist Statement

Xiaoxiao (小晓) Strong
Chinese born, American raised, 1999

My work explores my personal understanding and experiences surrounding my identity as a transracial and international adoptee. Adopted at ten months and raised in a predominantly white, small town in Montana since the age of two, Western culture and appearances were how I came to identify myself. Although my parents were persistent in their attempts to keep me connected with my Chinese heritage throughout my younger years, I stubbornly resisted their efforts since I felt no void at the time.

However, after experiencing a world beyond the small town in which everyone knew my story, I found I could no longer avoid certain parts of my identity as I once had. Where once I was simply Xiaoxiao from rural Montana, outside of that town I became an Asian who spoke, “surprisingly good English.” With repeated encounters like these, I began reevaluating my relationship to my Asian origins and adoptee status.

Coming out of the fog is a prominent term in the adoption community that describes a time when an adoptee begins to rewrite their narrative around adoption through their own research as opposed to what has been told to them by their parents or society.

This conflicted challenge has become the foundation for my current work. Through navigating the seemingly disparate relationship between my Chinese heritage and Western upbringing, I confront the traditional notions of family, hope, luck and gratitude. These themes have created both a uniting common thread as well as places of contention within my practice. Though the process has proved to be unpredictable and emotionally taxing, I see the pain incurred by doing nothing as much greater.