Artist's Statement:

Jawhar and I visited Kawsar, our oldest sister, for a Nowruz celebration. I remember that night being magical, watching my sisters dancing with the biggest smiles.

Being from the middle of nowhere Texas, I felt disconnected from my identity; my surroundings held me away from other Uyghurs and our culture.

At Nowruz, that disconnect was bridged; I felt like I was Uyghur again. Seeing my sisters dance made me realize the beauty in our culture and how I must try my best to preserve it. Even now, the memory of their smiles and laughter lingers in my head, inspiring me to carry on this memory and draw it. I wanted to capture the moment; the happiness my sisters had on their faces as they danced and spun in their fluttering etles dresses would live on forever. My sisters, Kawsar and Jawhar, mean so much to me. Every time I'm around them, I finally feel Uyghur.