besea.n / ESEA Heritage Month

besea.n

This t-shirt will support besea.n (Britain's East and South East Asian Network)'s ongoing work in spotlighting East and South East Asians (ESEAs), and raising awareness and combating the challenges the community faces, alongside celebrating the UK's first ESEA Heritage Month as part of the organisation's goal to gain recognition from the UK Government Department of Culture, Media and Sport of an annual, month-long, collaborative programme of events in September dedicated to East and South East Asian heritage, culture and history.

Illustrated by besea.n co-founder Karlie Wu, the tshirt features the mythical, lion-like creatures of East and South East Asia, often seen guarding religious sites, palaces, tombs or even homes, to protect and ward off evil spirits. As symbols of strength and courage, these are also qualities ESEAs have upheld in the face of increased violence, and one that is recognisable in our parents’ and ancestors’ journeys in getting us to where we are today. 

From left to right, clockwise: Snow Lion, depicted on the Tibetan flag and seen at Buddhist temples; Cambodian lion from the Khmer Empire; Barong Ket, the King of Spirits in Balinese mythology; Singha of Thailand; Komainu/Shisa of Japan; Haetae of Korea; Shishi of China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia or Sư tử đá in Vietnam; Chinthe of Burma/Myanmar; Merlion of Singapore.

N.B the sea-lion on the Philippines' coat of arms has been omitted as it was imposed by colonisers. Brunei, East Timor, Mongolia do not have a similar equivalent, and may instead use the Shishi, given their inclusion within the Sino-cultural sphere. Laos does not have a similar equivalent but some historic sites feature the Singha.

With thanks to Christina McClure, Francesca Humi, Mai-anh Peterson, Morokoth Fournier des Corats and Amy Phung for their guidance; Natalie Hammond; and Katie McAtackney at We Are Print Social. Profits will be split equally between besea.n and the artist.

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besea.n is a grassroots organisation founded by six East and South East Asian (ESEA) women, whose mission is to promote positive representation of ESEA people in the UK and tackle discrimination at all levels in our society, through a multi-faceted approach that advocates across various axes, such as media, education and community organising. For more information on ESEA Heritage Month, visit: https://www.besean.co.uk/esea-heritage-month

Instagram: @besea.n | Twitter: @besea_n

Karlie Wu is an artist based in Glasgow, exploring themes of nostalgia and cultural identity. Much of Wu’s work delves into the identity of being British/Scottish-Chinese, its expectations and misconceptions, and the reality of this lived experience. Additionally, her Hong Kong heritage and its inextricable connection to British colonialism, coupled with Wu’s Scottish upbringing, drives the artist to navigate the term ‘cultural identity’. Through painting, drawing and other forms of media, Wu observes, probes and presents a glimmer of what it might mean to be Scottish or British, and being British Chinese.

Instagram: @wukarlie |  www.karliewu.co.uk