Originally from the Bay Area, Felicia Liang is an artist now living and working as an artist in NYC.
We caught up with Felicia to ask about the concept behind her artwork ‘Nine Koi Fish’ and where the proceeds of donations for prints of her art will be donated to.
Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you're from / you & your family's background.
A: I grew up in Bay Area in California and have lived and worked in New York. My parents are from Taiwan and were the first to immigrate here to the United States.
Can you elaborate on the artwork you made: The story behind it . Personally, what does the art symbolize to you?
A: I've grown up seeing fish tanks, whether they were in restaurants in Chinatown or the one in my dad's business today. I've always found koi fish to be very calming, and they're seen as symbols of prosperity and perseverance, so many immigrant-run businesses have them set up where they work.
I've drawn eight bright colored koi to represent abundance, with one black koi to absorb any negative energy. Amidst the hate and violence in this world today, I still choose to hope and believe in the power of love and community care.
What does the organization you chose mean to you and why that specific one? Why do you feel others should be aware of it & supporting it as well?
A: APEN works at the intersection of social, environmental, and economic justice, and truly champion working class families. They work with immigrant and refugee communities within Oakland and Richmond in California across leadership development, civic engagement, and community building and organizing to imagine and build a more just and equitable future for everyone.