2024
Generational Shifts is a publication exploring the evolving identity of Kiwi-born Chinese across three generations. Structured into three distinct sections Grandfather, Father, and Son, the book uses period-specific design to capture each era's unique experiences and challenges. The Grandfather section adopts a newspaper layout, representing the early Chinese immigrants facing cultural isolation and discrimination in New Zealand in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Father section embraces mid-century design, reflecting the working-class values of the generation that ran small family businesses, balancing cultural preservation with pressures to assimilate. Finally, the Son section takes a modern, minimalist approach, mirroring the younger generation's navigation of a multicultural world where traditional identity can feel fragmented. Using interviews, archival images, and personal stories, Generational Shifts looks at how identity evolves within the Chinese New Zealand community, highlighting the importance of cultural continuity and adaptation.
I chose this topic because cultural assimilation being so prevalent in my generation, it threatens the preservation of our NZ-Chinese culture for future generations.
The history of New Zealand’s Chinese community dates back to the mid 19th century, beginning with the arrival of Appo Hocton in 1842, the first recorded Chinese settler.
The largest wave of early Chinese migration occurred during the Otago gold rush of the 1860s, when hundreds of Chinese men, mostly from Guangdong province, arrived seeking economic opportunity. However, despite their contributions, Chinese immigrants faced widespread discrimination, including the introduction of the Poll Tax in 1881, which restricted Chinese entry into New Zealand. As gold mining declined, many turned to market gardening and fruit shops, establishing small businesses that became integral to local communities. By the mid-20th century, Chinese New Zealanders were still largely confined to working-class industries but had begun to integrate more into mainstream society.
This project was a culmination of everything I have learnt during my three years of studying. I wanted to use all the resources available at AUT which were screen printing, laser-cutting and bookbindery