18MR made this shirt to honor the lineages of resistance and healing that exist in our Asian American communities.

We believe deeply in the magic and power of ancestral healing, liberatory traditions, and our people to transform and end systems of oppression. We know that the best cures for these harms in society come from our queer, trans, and BIPOC creativity and resistance. Our communities have always been our greatest source of knowledge and power. Our communities are our medicine.   

Our legacies of knowledge and healing resilience run deep. We believe in the healing power of our community. Our community is our remedy.    

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Brenda Chi (she/her), pictured below, is a queer Asian American artist from Los Angeles with a 10-year freelance background in TV, film, comics, apparel and editorial. As a daughter of Chinese-Vietnamese immigrants, Brenda?s work is rooted as an ABC, empowering and validating the Asian American experience. She paints, draws, and makes stickers, prints, and shirts with her art. You may have seen her ?MSG Girl? and ?Yeet Hay All Day? shirts out IRL.

ABOUT THE DESIGN FROM THE ARTIST

The flowers in each corner are the Butterfly Pea flower, a tropical flower found in South and Southeast Asia, and used in Ayurvedic and Chinese Traditional Medicine practices. Some people may know this flower as Butterfly Pea Flower tea found at boba shops! 

Another remedy is found in the center: The Pestle and Mortar. It grinds up different herbs like Star Anise, Mint, Saffron, Thai Chilis, Ginger and Green Onions. All of these ingredients are individually potent in flavor and used in different cultures. I wanted it to represent that when we work together, we become a powerful community of strength and solidarity.

The Lotus Flower is also used in Ayurvedic and Chinese Traditional Medicine! It is a native plant in South Asia, East Asia and Indochina and is a common Asian art motif. It is consumed in China, Japan, India, Sri Lanka, Korea and more! Since the Lotus Flower is the national flower of India, I created a Lotus Flower Mandala. The Lotus Flower is known to represent spiritual enlightenment, and in this design, it means that our unity as an Asian American community heals the damage caused by white supremacy and brings us justice. 

Drawn in the style of Chinese-Folk art, Chrysanthemum flowers decorate the sides. As a Chinese-Vietnamese American, Chrysanthemum tea is one of my favorites and is a common motif in Chinese art, symbolizing longevity. May our movement lead the way for future generations!

Finally, we have our Bengal Tigers! Bengal Tigers are from India, Pakistan, southeastern Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and southwestern China. They are the national animals of Bangladesh and India. Moreover, other tigers are the national animal for South Korea (Siberian Tiger) and Malaysia (Malayan Tiger)! Orange tigers circle around the pestle and mortar, the subjects receiving the good blessings and healing power of our movement. We are the tigers!