The Importance of the Past

by Jiashan Lang

"Cherish Spring" by Jiashan Lang

"Eight Gods Crossing the Sea" by Jiashan Lang

Growing up in an artistic family, my grandfather dedicated his life to bringing back the art form of dough figurines and other intangible aspects of our cultural heritage. Thus, I was inspired to preserve and promote Asian culture and arts myself.

To me, making dough figurines has always been a relaxing moment where I can create something beautiful and representative of my culture. But leaving my family and immigrating to the U.S. has taught me something more important; we can never stay in a “moment.” Everything in life, whether it makes us desire or despair will happen, and it will become something that happened in the past. My art has become a way that I can connect to the past and to my roots. It condenses all the feelings and emotions that I want to preserve in the moment and share with the world.

When I read a book or hear a story, I see it through the form of dough figurines. I hope that the collectors of my art will carry home the same feeling that I have; the feeling of owning a sliver of time preserved in history.