“Disconnected” explores my experience as an Asian American losing the ability to speak and understand my native language, Cantonese. The loss of language carries feelings of grief, shame, and distance—especially when I struggle to communicate with loved ones. In this way, language has become a painful reminder of my cultural connection that feels like it is slipping away.
In this poster, I construct English letterforms from Cantonese characters, visually merging the two languages that shape my identity. This gesture reflects both my upbringing and my present reality: existing between two cultures and languages. Through typography, I examine how language can simultaneously connect and divide, preserve and fade.
About the Artist
Aree Tam is a Boston-based Asian American artist and graphic designer. Her practice blends digital and analog processes to explore the tactile possibilities of design. Working at the intersection of typography and print, she creates pieces that invite both visual and physical engagement. Her work is grounded in material exploration, often emphasizing texture, form, and the sensory qualities and experiences of printed matter. Aree’s practice is rooted in themes of nostalgia, joy, and her Asian American identity, which are important themes to her sense of self. Her practice is a constant exploration of the ongoing dialogue between memory and making.
