Instagram Story Save

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

If you've been here a while, you've probably seen some version of this post before.

I've shared these images or some version of these projects often. Partly because I'm proud of them, partly because for the last three years, there wasn't much new to share.

Life got very full, and then very hard, and making work quietly stopped being something I had access to.

I'm trying to change that now, slowly, intentionally, and with a lot of unlearning and re-learning to do.

So if you're new: welcome, glad you found your way here.

And if you've been here a while: thank you for staying.

🔗 cmuins.com

Photos by my mum, my EE, David @daithaid, Tabu @tabuinai and Yiting @ytlee0612

手信！🇭🇰 Apart from the usual refilling of make-up, skincare, clothes, and traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, these are the random knick-knacks we brought home (extra souvenir-esque type things are for David hahahhaha)

EE said that she and mum used to dance to this song at their church’s fundraising galas when they were kids 🥲 funnily enough this song was the theme song for a bakery commercial when I was a kid, and featured a pair of local twin celebrities dancing.

Vote Green 💚🗳️
Polling stations are open until 10pm today.

Some green paintings to match today’s green vibes 🌿

1. The Mountain (2022) from The Gwai Lenormand
2. Year of the Snake (2024)
3. Vegetable Soup (2022)
4. Growing Moss (2023)
5. The Faun and her Mountain (2022)
6. Corn Silk Tea (2022)

#votegreen #votedgreen

Vote Green 💚🗳️
Polling stations are open until 10pm today.

Some green paintings to match today’s green vibes 🌿

1. The Mountain (2022) from The Gwai Lenormand
2. Year of the Snake (2024)
3. Vegetable Soup (2022)
4. Growing Moss (2023)
5. The Faun and her Mountain (2022)
6. Corn Silk Tea (2022)

#votegreen #votedgreen

Vote Green 💚🗳️
Polling stations are open until 10pm today.

Some green paintings to match today’s green vibes 🌿

1. The Mountain (2022) from The Gwai Lenormand
2. Year of the Snake (2024)
3. Vegetable Soup (2022)
4. Growing Moss (2023)
5. The Faun and her Mountain (2022)
6. Corn Silk Tea (2022)

#votegreen #votedgreen

Vote Green 💚🗳️
Polling stations are open until 10pm today.

Some green paintings to match today’s green vibes 🌿

1. The Mountain (2022) from The Gwai Lenormand
2. Year of the Snake (2024)
3. Vegetable Soup (2022)
4. Growing Moss (2023)
5. The Faun and her Mountain (2022)
6. Corn Silk Tea (2022)

#votegreen #votedgreen

Vote Green 💚🗳️
Polling stations are open until 10pm today.

Some green paintings to match today’s green vibes 🌿

1. The Mountain (2022) from The Gwai Lenormand
2. Year of the Snake (2024)
3. Vegetable Soup (2022)
4. Growing Moss (2023)
5. The Faun and her Mountain (2022)
6. Corn Silk Tea (2022)

#votegreen #votedgreen

Vote Green 💚🗳️
Polling stations are open until 10pm today.

Some green paintings to match today’s green vibes 🌿

1. The Mountain (2022) from The Gwai Lenormand
2. Year of the Snake (2024)
3. Vegetable Soup (2022)
4. Growing Moss (2023)
5. The Faun and her Mountain (2022)
6. Corn Silk Tea (2022)

#votegreen #votedgreen

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

踏入30 — turned 30 two weeks ago. It’s the first birthday I spent without you.

I’ve always made it a point to spend my actual birth day with you, because this was the day you had to endure one of the hardest trials a woman can go through. Every year, when able, I would celebrate my mum on my birthday — 佢先係主角。

EE thought that I had experienced a birthday without you before, referencing when I first moved to London in 2023 and was living with friends for 10 months. I reminded her that I had actually spent my birthday with mum as she moved to London on 8 March 2024, just in time to be surprised by my well-intentioned housemates at midnight on the 12th with a teacake-cake. Previously, when I travelled to Dublin in March 2023, I had also timed it so I could spend my birthday with mum and EE — we bought a traditional cream fruitcake from an old shop in Prince Edward and ate it while we discussed plans for everything we were going to do when we got settled in Europe.

As expected, March was difficult. But I knew mum wanted to celebrate either way, so we booked an Italian restaurant nearby under mum’s name and that was all I planned.

Without mum, David decided to make my day as special as possible. He made me a full Irish fry up in the morning, spoiled me with gifts, coordinated flowers from his lovely family, and even made Bluey cupcakes. We saw Tracey Emin and the glorious Nigerian Modernism shows at Tate Modern, and just spent time together. 🤍

In the end, I still wanted to make something to honour mum. So I began experimenting with making worry stones with mum’s thumbprint by tracing it onto baking paper, then making marks onto clay with a fine point needle.

Miss you every day, ma.

Me and my art from age 4 to 17 🥰

If mum figured out how to make reels, I just know that she would have made this one of me.

I’ve been so fortunate to have not just a fiercely loving mum, but one who believed in me even when the world told her that pursuing art was a doomed career. She recorded and kept all my baby paintings safely in folders under her bed. She of course was still worried about survival so told me to make sure I had a stable job but never ever stopped me from pursuing my dreams. 🤍I never thought it was a phase because she didn’t either 🤍

I will always do this for them.

To me, art is a tether to connect with other realms and people. It’s a tool for communication about the emotions we can’t find words for. A way to remind ourselves of imagination, and of how the world could be.

I’m struggling to speak or even process the heartbreak and anger I feel for this world and for my family personally in the last decade. All I can do is hold onto the moments of joy just a little tighter, because we all know how fleeting it is.

Bear with me, as I try to figure out how to leave this world a little better, a little more beautiful than I found it.

I went from this to *this* ✨ in over four weeks while balancing grieving my mum, a full time job, and just life— I’d say it’s a job well done and I’m very proud of myself for barely holding it all together. 🥲🤍

祝大家馬年快樂 ，身體健康 ，今年唔好咁辛苦 ，想做嘅嘢都做到 ，工作愛情樣樣順利， 同愛護嘅人過一個好年 🤍🔥🐎

Managed to make my (personal) deadline with the 生肖painting 🫠🤍

This will mark my first non-memorial painting since mum passed. The nostalgic ponyta inspired horse trampling through each of my tarot card iconographies, lighting the sky ablaze while surrounded by the flowers I get for mum every week.

This piece can be folded to fit into my bag, acting as a spiritual map for me this year, so I can carry the chaotic but determined spirit of the fire horse with me everywhere I go.

Wishing everyone a happy year of the Fire Horse, with good health, love, resilience and clarity.

May we all find our way in this year of grief and chaos. 🤍

#yearofthehorse

祝大家馬年快樂 ，身體健康 ，今年唔好咁辛苦 ，想做嘅嘢都做到 ，工作愛情樣樣順利， 同愛護嘅人過一個好年 🤍🔥🐎

Managed to make my (personal) deadline with the 生肖painting 🫠🤍

This will mark my first non-memorial painting since mum passed. The nostalgic ponyta inspired horse trampling through each of my tarot card iconographies, lighting the sky ablaze while surrounded by the flowers I get for mum every week.

This piece can be folded to fit into my bag, acting as a spiritual map for me this year, so I can carry the chaotic but determined spirit of the fire horse with me everywhere I go.

Wishing everyone a happy year of the Fire Horse, with good health, love, resilience and clarity.

May we all find our way in this year of grief and chaos. 🤍

#yearofthehorse

祝大家馬年快樂 ，身體健康 ，今年唔好咁辛苦 ，想做嘅嘢都做到 ，工作愛情樣樣順利， 同愛護嘅人過一個好年 🤍🔥🐎

Managed to make my (personal) deadline with the 生肖painting 🫠🤍

This will mark my first non-memorial painting since mum passed. The nostalgic ponyta inspired horse trampling through each of my tarot card iconographies, lighting the sky ablaze while surrounded by the flowers I get for mum every week.

This piece can be folded to fit into my bag, acting as a spiritual map for me this year, so I can carry the chaotic but determined spirit of the fire horse with me everywhere I go.

Wishing everyone a happy year of the Fire Horse, with good health, love, resilience and clarity.

May we all find our way in this year of grief and chaos. 🤍

#yearofthehorse

祝大家馬年快樂 ，身體健康 ，今年唔好咁辛苦 ，想做嘅嘢都做到 ，工作愛情樣樣順利， 同愛護嘅人過一個好年 🤍🔥🐎

Managed to make my (personal) deadline with the 生肖painting 🫠🤍

This will mark my first non-memorial painting since mum passed. The nostalgic ponyta inspired horse trampling through each of my tarot card iconographies, lighting the sky ablaze while surrounded by the flowers I get for mum every week.

This piece can be folded to fit into my bag, acting as a spiritual map for me this year, so I can carry the chaotic but determined spirit of the fire horse with me everywhere I go.

Wishing everyone a happy year of the Fire Horse, with good health, love, resilience and clarity.

May we all find our way in this year of grief and chaos. 🤍

#yearofthehorse

祝大家馬年快樂 ，身體健康 ，今年唔好咁辛苦 ，想做嘅嘢都做到 ，工作愛情樣樣順利， 同愛護嘅人過一個好年 🤍🔥🐎

Managed to make my (personal) deadline with the 生肖painting 🫠🤍

This will mark my first non-memorial painting since mum passed. The nostalgic ponyta inspired horse trampling through each of my tarot card iconographies, lighting the sky ablaze while surrounded by the flowers I get for mum every week.

This piece can be folded to fit into my bag, acting as a spiritual map for me this year, so I can carry the chaotic but determined spirit of the fire horse with me everywhere I go.

Wishing everyone a happy year of the Fire Horse, with good health, love, resilience and clarity.

May we all find our way in this year of grief and chaos. 🤍

#yearofthehorse

祝大家馬年快樂 ，身體健康 ，今年唔好咁辛苦 ，想做嘅嘢都做到 ，工作愛情樣樣順利， 同愛護嘅人過一個好年 🤍🔥🐎

Managed to make my (personal) deadline with the 生肖painting 🫠🤍

This will mark my first non-memorial painting since mum passed. The nostalgic ponyta inspired horse trampling through each of my tarot card iconographies, lighting the sky ablaze while surrounded by the flowers I get for mum every week.

This piece can be folded to fit into my bag, acting as a spiritual map for me this year, so I can carry the chaotic but determined spirit of the fire horse with me everywhere I go.

Wishing everyone a happy year of the Fire Horse, with good health, love, resilience and clarity.

May we all find our way in this year of grief and chaos. 🤍

#yearofthehorse

祝大家馬年快樂 ，身體健康 ，今年唔好咁辛苦 ，想做嘅嘢都做到 ，工作愛情樣樣順利， 同愛護嘅人過一個好年 🤍🔥🐎

Managed to make my (personal) deadline with the 生肖painting 🫠🤍

This will mark my first non-memorial painting since mum passed. The nostalgic ponyta inspired horse trampling through each of my tarot card iconographies, lighting the sky ablaze while surrounded by the flowers I get for mum every week.

This piece can be folded to fit into my bag, acting as a spiritual map for me this year, so I can carry the chaotic but determined spirit of the fire horse with me everywhere I go.

Wishing everyone a happy year of the Fire Horse, with good health, love, resilience and clarity.

May we all find our way in this year of grief and chaos. 🤍

#yearofthehorse

For over five years, I’ve painted a 生肖 piece to ring in the new year when it comes on the Lunisolar calendar.

For weeks, I didn’t think I would or could paint one for 2026. There were moments when I didn’t think I could paint at all. But I also know that my mum would be so disappointed in me if I had given up on one of the things she spent so much time and effort in nurturing. Mum was the first person to figure out that I could draw. One of her favourite stories was that when I was just a few months old, she would give me a pencil to dot eyes and mouths in a circle and I would get it right every single time. And she spent my childhood encouraging me to finish pieces, entering them in contests and listening to me as I rambled about my next big idea.

For the Year of the Fire Horse, I took it upon myself to paint a larger-than-usual watercolour piece, simply because it felt right, but also because I wanted to show my mum what I can do, that she hadn’t wasted her time. It’s still got ways to go, and I’m already hoping I could ‘edit’ and repaint the current piece, but I’m hoping I can get it done before Chinese New Year is over (Day 15 of the New Year — 3 March 2026)

#祝大家馬年快樂 #身體健康 #今年唔好咁辛苦 #想做嘅嘢都做到 #工作愛情樣樣順利

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

Happy Year of the Fire Horse! 🐎🔥 Happy Lunar (Lunisolar) New Year, Chinese New Year / Spring Festival, Seollal, Tết Nguyên Đán, Tahun Baru Cina, Tahun Baru Imlek and Wan Trut Chin to all those who celebrate! 🧧

We’ve compiled an inexhaustive reading list highlighting visual arts and culture from the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) communities. From academic writing to exhibition catalogues to independently published zines, these titles are all available to read at the Stuart Hall Library.

The Stuart Hall Library is open Tuesdays to Fridays, 10am to 5pm.

We wish you good health, good fortune, peace, and a vibrant new year 💓

✏️ Illustration & reading list by Charlotte Mui @cmuins

#shlreadinglist

You bought tickets to see the Jeff Buckley documentary nearly a month ago. You presented them as a joke and gave me no option to say no — knowing that I was still struggling with leaving the house unless I had to.

When I grew frustrated about picking a restaurant, three days before Valentine’s Day (when usually I have reservations and menu research done weeks ago), and started crying uncontrollably, you sat with me, holding my hand until I found the energy to go take a hot shower alongside a playlist of Hwasa and Bad Bunny. You listened and held space when I realised aloud that earlier that day I had to stop and comfort a socially anxious girl who burst into tears after I hastily pointed her towards our catalogue because I was late to a meeting. I was paying for the emotional labour I gave when I was running on empty.

On Valentines morning, you held me tight for hours under the covers, littering my forehead with soft kisses while “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed played on your phone, shocked that I had no idea who Lou Reed was. You presented me with flowers — carnations, roses, tulips and alstroemeria— and a card that punctuated the romance with our office-themed absurdity.

The day was perfect;

- Late lunch at Zapote for a beautiful spread of red prawn ceviche, beetroot aguachile, crispy artichoke quesadillas, the most tender and fire kissed al pastor skewers with guacamole and crackling, and melt in your mouth suckling pig and fresh tortillas.

- Moseying into Photobook Cafe for their “Lovers on Film” exhibition

- coffee at the Maldron while we watched a bit of the Scotland vs England game

- exploring Shoreditch, picking up chocolates for EE,flipping through old vinyls and posters, and finally buying our first household item together that was purely for us — a coffee mug candle that smells like a 100 freshly brewed americanos.

- Watching the documentary on a tiny couch in a dark room full of sniffling girls and their boyfriends, and spilling our drinks. I came out inspired and so painfully aware of life, and the desire to build something so we would not be forgotten.

I love you, tummy aches and all. Even if you turned into a fly. 🤍

@daithaid

You bought tickets to see the Jeff Buckley documentary nearly a month ago. You presented them as a joke and gave me no option to say no — knowing that I was still struggling with leaving the house unless I had to.

When I grew frustrated about picking a restaurant, three days before Valentine’s Day (when usually I have reservations and menu research done weeks ago), and started crying uncontrollably, you sat with me, holding my hand until I found the energy to go take a hot shower alongside a playlist of Hwasa and Bad Bunny. You listened and held space when I realised aloud that earlier that day I had to stop and comfort a socially anxious girl who burst into tears after I hastily pointed her towards our catalogue because I was late to a meeting. I was paying for the emotional labour I gave when I was running on empty.

On Valentines morning, you held me tight for hours under the covers, littering my forehead with soft kisses while “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed played on your phone, shocked that I had no idea who Lou Reed was. You presented me with flowers — carnations, roses, tulips and alstroemeria— and a card that punctuated the romance with our office-themed absurdity.

The day was perfect;

- Late lunch at Zapote for a beautiful spread of red prawn ceviche, beetroot aguachile, crispy artichoke quesadillas, the most tender and fire kissed al pastor skewers with guacamole and crackling, and melt in your mouth suckling pig and fresh tortillas.

- Moseying into Photobook Cafe for their “Lovers on Film” exhibition

- coffee at the Maldron while we watched a bit of the Scotland vs England game

- exploring Shoreditch, picking up chocolates for EE,flipping through old vinyls and posters, and finally buying our first household item together that was purely for us — a coffee mug candle that smells like a 100 freshly brewed americanos.

- Watching the documentary on a tiny couch in a dark room full of sniffling girls and their boyfriends, and spilling our drinks. I came out inspired and so painfully aware of life, and the desire to build something so we would not be forgotten.

I love you, tummy aches and all. Even if you turned into a fly. 🤍

@daithaid

You bought tickets to see the Jeff Buckley documentary nearly a month ago. You presented them as a joke and gave me no option to say no — knowing that I was still struggling with leaving the house unless I had to.

When I grew frustrated about picking a restaurant, three days before Valentine’s Day (when usually I have reservations and menu research done weeks ago), and started crying uncontrollably, you sat with me, holding my hand until I found the energy to go take a hot shower alongside a playlist of Hwasa and Bad Bunny. You listened and held space when I realised aloud that earlier that day I had to stop and comfort a socially anxious girl who burst into tears after I hastily pointed her towards our catalogue because I was late to a meeting. I was paying for the emotional labour I gave when I was running on empty.

On Valentines morning, you held me tight for hours under the covers, littering my forehead with soft kisses while “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed played on your phone, shocked that I had no idea who Lou Reed was. You presented me with flowers — carnations, roses, tulips and alstroemeria— and a card that punctuated the romance with our office-themed absurdity.

The day was perfect;

- Late lunch at Zapote for a beautiful spread of red prawn ceviche, beetroot aguachile, crispy artichoke quesadillas, the most tender and fire kissed al pastor skewers with guacamole and crackling, and melt in your mouth suckling pig and fresh tortillas.

- Moseying into Photobook Cafe for their “Lovers on Film” exhibition

- coffee at the Maldron while we watched a bit of the Scotland vs England game

- exploring Shoreditch, picking up chocolates for EE,flipping through old vinyls and posters, and finally buying our first household item together that was purely for us — a coffee mug candle that smells like a 100 freshly brewed americanos.

- Watching the documentary on a tiny couch in a dark room full of sniffling girls and their boyfriends, and spilling our drinks. I came out inspired and so painfully aware of life, and the desire to build something so we would not be forgotten.

I love you, tummy aches and all. Even if you turned into a fly. 🤍

@daithaid

You bought tickets to see the Jeff Buckley documentary nearly a month ago. You presented them as a joke and gave me no option to say no — knowing that I was still struggling with leaving the house unless I had to.

When I grew frustrated about picking a restaurant, three days before Valentine’s Day (when usually I have reservations and menu research done weeks ago), and started crying uncontrollably, you sat with me, holding my hand until I found the energy to go take a hot shower alongside a playlist of Hwasa and Bad Bunny. You listened and held space when I realised aloud that earlier that day I had to stop and comfort a socially anxious girl who burst into tears after I hastily pointed her towards our catalogue because I was late to a meeting. I was paying for the emotional labour I gave when I was running on empty.

On Valentines morning, you held me tight for hours under the covers, littering my forehead with soft kisses while “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed played on your phone, shocked that I had no idea who Lou Reed was. You presented me with flowers — carnations, roses, tulips and alstroemeria— and a card that punctuated the romance with our office-themed absurdity.

The day was perfect;

- Late lunch at Zapote for a beautiful spread of red prawn ceviche, beetroot aguachile, crispy artichoke quesadillas, the most tender and fire kissed al pastor skewers with guacamole and crackling, and melt in your mouth suckling pig and fresh tortillas.

- Moseying into Photobook Cafe for their “Lovers on Film” exhibition

- coffee at the Maldron while we watched a bit of the Scotland vs England game

- exploring Shoreditch, picking up chocolates for EE,flipping through old vinyls and posters, and finally buying our first household item together that was purely for us — a coffee mug candle that smells like a 100 freshly brewed americanos.

- Watching the documentary on a tiny couch in a dark room full of sniffling girls and their boyfriends, and spilling our drinks. I came out inspired and so painfully aware of life, and the desire to build something so we would not be forgotten.

I love you, tummy aches and all. Even if you turned into a fly. 🤍

@daithaid

You bought tickets to see the Jeff Buckley documentary nearly a month ago. You presented them as a joke and gave me no option to say no — knowing that I was still struggling with leaving the house unless I had to.

When I grew frustrated about picking a restaurant, three days before Valentine’s Day (when usually I have reservations and menu research done weeks ago), and started crying uncontrollably, you sat with me, holding my hand until I found the energy to go take a hot shower alongside a playlist of Hwasa and Bad Bunny. You listened and held space when I realised aloud that earlier that day I had to stop and comfort a socially anxious girl who burst into tears after I hastily pointed her towards our catalogue because I was late to a meeting. I was paying for the emotional labour I gave when I was running on empty.

On Valentines morning, you held me tight for hours under the covers, littering my forehead with soft kisses while “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed played on your phone, shocked that I had no idea who Lou Reed was. You presented me with flowers — carnations, roses, tulips and alstroemeria— and a card that punctuated the romance with our office-themed absurdity.

The day was perfect;

- Late lunch at Zapote for a beautiful spread of red prawn ceviche, beetroot aguachile, crispy artichoke quesadillas, the most tender and fire kissed al pastor skewers with guacamole and crackling, and melt in your mouth suckling pig and fresh tortillas.

- Moseying into Photobook Cafe for their “Lovers on Film” exhibition

- coffee at the Maldron while we watched a bit of the Scotland vs England game

- exploring Shoreditch, picking up chocolates for EE,flipping through old vinyls and posters, and finally buying our first household item together that was purely for us — a coffee mug candle that smells like a 100 freshly brewed americanos.

- Watching the documentary on a tiny couch in a dark room full of sniffling girls and their boyfriends, and spilling our drinks. I came out inspired and so painfully aware of life, and the desire to build something so we would not be forgotten.

I love you, tummy aches and all. Even if you turned into a fly. 🤍

@daithaid

Three months without you.

I kept part of my promise to you last month, I’m working on our family archive. The first 500 are already digitised so our relatives can access the photos you painstakingly brought with you to London — the same ones you wanted to scan as a project when you arrived. I found the gigantic Mickey Mouse album that contained chronological photos of my first year on this slowly degrading planet. There are numbers marked on the back of each photograph, and notes that you made. I found the notebook that corresponded to the album, with logged records about our day to day together. I see the care and effort you placed on me, the love you’ve shown me in the lines “she doesn’t seem to like papaya” and “she will reluctantly blow a kiss to grandpa if I look upset”. I’m so lucky to have known your love for the last 30 years.

I’ve learnt to carry the grief better, ma. Rather than thinking of how I lost you in 2025, I’m hoping that time passes quickly so I can see you soon. But for time to pass, I must find joy in life again.

I’m trying to find joy again, ma.

#familyarchive

Three months without you.

I kept part of my promise to you last month, I’m working on our family archive. The first 500 are already digitised so our relatives can access the photos you painstakingly brought with you to London — the same ones you wanted to scan as a project when you arrived. I found the gigantic Mickey Mouse album that contained chronological photos of my first year on this slowly degrading planet. There are numbers marked on the back of each photograph, and notes that you made. I found the notebook that corresponded to the album, with logged records about our day to day together. I see the care and effort you placed on me, the love you’ve shown me in the lines “she doesn’t seem to like papaya” and “she will reluctantly blow a kiss to grandpa if I look upset”. I’m so lucky to have known your love for the last 30 years.

I’ve learnt to carry the grief better, ma. Rather than thinking of how I lost you in 2025, I’m hoping that time passes quickly so I can see you soon. But for time to pass, I must find joy in life again.

I’m trying to find joy again, ma.

#familyarchive

Three months without you.

I kept part of my promise to you last month, I’m working on our family archive. The first 500 are already digitised so our relatives can access the photos you painstakingly brought with you to London — the same ones you wanted to scan as a project when you arrived. I found the gigantic Mickey Mouse album that contained chronological photos of my first year on this slowly degrading planet. There are numbers marked on the back of each photograph, and notes that you made. I found the notebook that corresponded to the album, with logged records about our day to day together. I see the care and effort you placed on me, the love you’ve shown me in the lines “she doesn’t seem to like papaya” and “she will reluctantly blow a kiss to grandpa if I look upset”. I’m so lucky to have known your love for the last 30 years.

I’ve learnt to carry the grief better, ma. Rather than thinking of how I lost you in 2025, I’m hoping that time passes quickly so I can see you soon. But for time to pass, I must find joy in life again.

I’m trying to find joy again, ma.

#familyarchive

Three months without you.

I kept part of my promise to you last month, I’m working on our family archive. The first 500 are already digitised so our relatives can access the photos you painstakingly brought with you to London — the same ones you wanted to scan as a project when you arrived. I found the gigantic Mickey Mouse album that contained chronological photos of my first year on this slowly degrading planet. There are numbers marked on the back of each photograph, and notes that you made. I found the notebook that corresponded to the album, with logged records about our day to day together. I see the care and effort you placed on me, the love you’ve shown me in the lines “she doesn’t seem to like papaya” and “she will reluctantly blow a kiss to grandpa if I look upset”. I’m so lucky to have known your love for the last 30 years.

I’ve learnt to carry the grief better, ma. Rather than thinking of how I lost you in 2025, I’m hoping that time passes quickly so I can see you soon. But for time to pass, I must find joy in life again.

I’m trying to find joy again, ma.

#familyarchive

Three months without you.

I kept part of my promise to you last month, I’m working on our family archive. The first 500 are already digitised so our relatives can access the photos you painstakingly brought with you to London — the same ones you wanted to scan as a project when you arrived. I found the gigantic Mickey Mouse album that contained chronological photos of my first year on this slowly degrading planet. There are numbers marked on the back of each photograph, and notes that you made. I found the notebook that corresponded to the album, with logged records about our day to day together. I see the care and effort you placed on me, the love you’ve shown me in the lines “she doesn’t seem to like papaya” and “she will reluctantly blow a kiss to grandpa if I look upset”. I’m so lucky to have known your love for the last 30 years.

I’ve learnt to carry the grief better, ma. Rather than thinking of how I lost you in 2025, I’m hoping that time passes quickly so I can see you soon. But for time to pass, I must find joy in life again.

I’m trying to find joy again, ma.

#familyarchive