Dive into May! Rachel Wada on her Asian Heritage Month design

Every month, we feature a new take on the CBC Arts logo created by a Canadian artist. Check out our previous logos!

"I'd like to think that I celebrate my Asian heritage every day," says Rachel Wada, the illustrator who created this splashy new CBC Arts logo — an image that'll be gracing all of our social media accounts for Asian Heritage Month. 

"Having immigrated to Canada at a young age, I felt a great sense of disconnect from my cultural roots," says Wada, speaking to CBC Arts over email. (Her family lived in Japan and China before eventually arriving in B.C.) "Including Chinese and Japanese motifs in my art was my way of reconnecting back to my heritage."

Want to know more? Dive right into this Q&A.

Name: Rachel Wada

Age: 27

Homebase: Vancouver

Let's talk about your design! What inspired your take on the CBC Arts logo? 

I am always excited for a project that promotes further representation of Asian culture in the media. The importance of seeing yourself reflected in art and popular culture is a topic that is heavy on my mind, and so taking on the CBC Arts logo for Asian Heritage Month was the perfect fit!

Tell me about those gorgeous koi. Why koi? (They're not inspired by the ones at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden in Vancouver, are they? And if they are, what happened to the otter?)

I have actually worked with the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden in the past, so Team Koi all the way! But the koi fish embodies positive connotations that permeate across many Asian cultures, from good luck and abundance to perseverance.

What's the art project you're most proud of?

Last year, I had the opportunity to illustrate my first children's book (The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden). This project is especially meaningful because the story is based on and inspired by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. 

Who's the last artist you discovered online?

It isn't a particular artist, but 50 Watts is a curated collection of book-related design and illustration that I recently discovered, and it has truly been an inspiration. I especially enjoy the children's book section.

What's your favourite place to see art?

As much as I love how the internet makes art accessible, I love the immersive experience of seeing art at a museum or gallery. The Honolulu Museum of Art holds a special place in my heart as it is the first place that I saw a James Jean mural in person.

What work of art do you wish you owned?

Ukiyo-e, or Japanese woodblock prints. I am a sucker for printmaking, therefore I am mesmerized by the craftsmanship and the ways ink and pigments interact with paper.

Where can we see more from you?

I'm online! Find me on Instagram (@rachelwada) and www.rachelwada.com. 

This conversation has been edited and condensed.