This self-portrait is a confessional exploration of belonging, shaped by Liu’s experience as a Chinese American artist whose first language is Chinese. Navigating the notoriously exclusive New York City art world, Liu positions himself in this painting like a tourist wearing the “I Heart New York” t-shirts sold in souvenir shops. The phrase “You in New York” written across the orange headband gestures toward a camp aesthetic, capturing both the context of an artist attempting to assimilate and a reflection of an unshakable sense of otherness.