Brian Dang’s project for the 2023 Jack Straw Writers Program is a collection of poems inspired by Brian’s ability to speak their family’s language (Cantonese) but not being able to read or write it. In their conversation with curator Priscilla Long, they talk about how Cantonese has framed the way they think, how realistic writing can limit their ability to write about their whole self, and about one day having their poems translated in a way their family can understand them. “It wouldn’t work right. And so much of the project is also being like this is where I’m at right now, and I can’t wait any longer.”

Music by Bryan Smith, produced through the Jack Straw Artist Support Program.