@cyshimi (Viviane Lee Hsu) explores issues of ancestry, identity, beauty and body through performance, digital art and nail sculptures. “My nails are a symbol of resistance, empowerment and identity,” says the nonbinary artist. “When I create, my main motivations are colors, textures and shapes that can transport you to a new surreal world and when they’re all combined, it creates a set of performative sculptures that can often question a hegemonic beauty standard.” “Growing up as a non-white child in Brazil makes you notice you’re different from a very young age,” explains Viviane, who is Taiwanese and Chinese Brazilian. “We feel alienated and suffer from self-hatred without really understanding who we are. When I found out about Asian activism and art, it was a way to let go of my silent traumas. When you understand yourself and are true to who you are, it’s the first step to be free with your art. And so for me, that experience is the base structure for everything that I am and that I create.” Photos by @cyshimi