In trying to understand why my parents came here, I often wonder what they were hoping for. I don’t think they were chasing riches—but perhaps they were chasing opportunity, especially for us, the second generation. In one way or another, the idea of a “Gold Rush” has always driven migration. Whether or not that gold was ever found varies from family to family—but the search for a better life never stops inspiring. Gold Rush (2025) 36" x 24" folded paper on wood panel in acrylic case. Composed of hand folded origami swallows, shaped by the artist to have a structural 3D shape. The banking and turning is based on the artists study in aerodynamics and flight training. The vibrant Chiyogami paper is hand silk-screened in Japan, and is PH neutralized by myself sheet by sheet. I use pH neutral glue and adhere to artist grade wood panels painted with a durable, acrylic paint . The acrylic case is custom-made to my specification, and installed myself. The piece comes ready to hang with either French cleat or D-rings. This piece is part of my migration series of origami assemblage. My artist statement: Andrew unearths great journeys through origami assemblage, influenced by his experience as a second generation Canadian. “We are keenly aware of our ‘otherness’, wondering if we truly belong. I fold hundreds of origami birds to honour hardships and sacrifices made by my parents’ generation. As I lay each bird in its place, I realize that the journey continues – I am still finding my way, to be accepted, by others, by myself.” The process is a cathartic, meditative practice. Always striving for perfection, taking joy in the completion of each small task, the culmination of thousands of motions to create something greater than the sum of its parts.

Andrew Wang

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Andrew left an engineering and business career in 2017 to care for his school age children and pursue his lifelong dream of becoming an artist. He is strongly influenced by the Renaissance period where artists were engineers and vice versa. As he was an engineer for a materials company for over a decade, Andrew takes great care in the choice of materials he uses, considering both technical and symbolic factors. While Andrew’s artistic practice is mainly in Origami, he enjoys the process of creation every single day with each medium before him.