My left hand operates at 25% capacity (2022)

acrylic paint, mixed media, luggage
(H) 12 x (W) 36 x (D) 24 cm

Mah learns Mandarin as a second language as a child in Singapore, before migrating to Australia. Texts found along the arm of the work titled My left hand operates at 25% capacity, read “Words were plenty in the early days” written in English. This points to the reality that his second language Mandarin is rarely used and forgotten slowly in his adopted home (Australia). The fingers depict the action of holding on or letting go. The words in this left hand, are the few remaining words in Mah’s memory; his Chinese name. It is left to the viewer’s discretion to interpret whether this cultural identity is important or a burden.