New Yorker

New Yorker

LibArt 2024

During the pandemic, a friend of my family passed away. As an immigrant from Southern China, he came to the US to work laboriously, aiming to provide a better life for his family back home. After many years of hard working, he decided to retire and reunite with them. However, the pandemic halted his plans. Stuck in the US, he continued construction work doing home building/renovating for new immigrants, as flights were not affordable. He got hit by heavy building materials at work but didn't take it seriously or seek help due to language barriers. He passed away alone, his story untold. As an immigrant myself, I created his portrait hoping to share his story with a wider audience. He didn’t speak much English, take the subway to commute, or venture into the city. Yet, he was a proud, hardworking New Yorker, an integral part of the Queens community.

Lujiang Li

2024

Held by creator

Drypoint and screenprint on paper