晓平 Xiǎo Píng opened her shop in 1991 in a small town
in West Germany. She sold everything Made in China
from porcelain to silk wear and traditional art works.

Her brothers back in Shanghai supported her by buying all the goods in their free-time.
When I was little, I barely saw my mom because she was working non-stop.
She used to spend the weekends on markets across the country to make a living with the goods that gave her a sense of home.

There is nothing to romanticize about the hard-working reality of 晓平 Xiǎo Píng. Yet, she is the most organized, persistent, responsible, and care-taking person I know, and I am blessed that she loves and supports me.

An Odd to my mom (updated)

published in [Un]seen mothers archive, INTER[-]SEEN

Xiao Ping 小萍

seeing you
The years we have spend apart,
hiding the sad parts of my life you would have worried to death about,
running from explaining myself to you and the exhaustion it brings
when you speak different mother tongues and come from different time eras,
broke me
broke us.

Yet, physical distance helps to detect and reflect, with the will to bring us together.

I see that you are caring so much about me as it gives us a sense of belonging.
I see that you have to do the things you do around the house to not feel entirely powerless.
I see that you are able to remember past experiences with such a sharp mind that I sometimes wonder how you can keep track of all the details.
I see
you.

Seeing you (first version)

I decided to write a new text about my mom to show and celebrate her life rather than my feelings about our relationship.

Final spread designed by me for INTER[-]SEEN