What kind of power would you like?
I would love the ability to fly or to teleport to anywhere in the world. Being from Hong Kong originally I have dreams of being able to reappear there at a moment’s notice. I feel caught between Hong Kong and Australia and would love to be in both places at the same time.
How would it manifest? What would enable it?
I’d channel a thought in my mind focusing on the destination, then leap into the sky and end up in the place that I imagined.
Who is your favourite superhero/person/public figure, contemporary or imagined?
Howl from Howl’s Moving Castle. He is powerful but selfless and not power hungry.
What do you admire most about Frida Kahlo and "Freda" Josephine Baker?
I love Frida’s strength and her clear image of her as a person. She paints herself because she knows herself and who she is. She can paint her feelings and her true self at different moments in her life. I feel like I am not yet confidant with who I am and that it’s a continuous battle with feeling confident and happy with my self.
What do you think of when you think of them?
I think of beautiful imagery with strong colours. Reds, blacks and yellows come to mind. They are not women of pastels, but strong primary colours.
What would you change in Melbourne? Australia? The world?
I would change people’s obsession with social media and celebrity culture. It’s become so ingrained in people’s lives it would be so good to have less reality TV or more interest in what’s going on in the world.
Are there any other issues that are important to you? Locally? Globally?
Animals held in captivity for entertainment purposes. There’s nothing that infuriates me more than the token photo taken in Thailand that shows up on Facebook with people posing with drugged tigers or crocodiles.
Do you feel like change is possible in these areas? How?
There is definitely change happening. For example the documentary Blackfish has been very eye opening as it documents the truth about the psychological trauma killer whales face whilst held in captivity. Since this documentary has aired, Sea World has faced tremendous pressure to release their whales and to end whale captivity for entertainment purposes.
Do you think your ideas could change anything?
Yes, because they can form a collective voice with others who have the same ideas to evoke change.
Are you comfortable speaking your mind/putting ideas into the world?
I do when it’s necessary in a certain situation. I’m never one to speak up loudly because I believe that I need to understand all the facts of the situation before I put it out there. As much as I agree with the freedom to express yourself and your ideas, sometimes people speak loudly and incorrectly much too frequently.
Do you consider yourself a feminist? Womanist? Why/why not? What does this mean to you?
I don’t consider myself a feminist in the traditional sense however I do believe that there still is inequality that exists in many facets of life, and this type of inequality seems to be socially accepted. It’s difficult because when something happens and you draw attention to it, you get labeled as a difficult female, a ‘punish’. The same thing doesn’t seem to happen with men.
How often do you subconsciously/consciously think about your desired superpower when you dress on a daily basis?
I do like to wear things are floaty, light and can catch the wind should I need to fly at a moment’s notice. Colourful clothing if I’m running along the rainbow, blacks and greys for when I’m traveling with the storm.
