The Red String of Fate

2022. Oil on Canvas, 16" x 20"

When I was born, the red string bracelet given by my grandparents represented longevity; the one given during my zodiac year wards off bad luck; the one given by my loved ones provides protection and care; the one given by my teachers represent academic success.

The various stages of my life are intertwined by various red strings, wrapping around my life in a tangled web of expectations and identity. Pulling each strand in a different direction, my vision clouds, distracted by the various expectations. The red string perhaps stretches and tangles, but it will never break. However, I, too, like the vibrant cactuses, embody resilience and growth, navigating the red string’s symbolization of positive wishes and the incarceration of its expectations.