Art Description (What inspired you to create the artwork?) "Holding onto the Roots" is a frottage artwork, visually representing the artist's own emotional journey as an immigrant in Canada. The mended figure made up of assembling different textures, signifies the effort required to retain her identity among the emotional hardships in the foreign land. But she isn't vibrant as before in the new environment. The leaves which are illustrated by rubbing "karapincha" (curry leaves) which are native to Asia found in a Canadian store, evokes the "exotic" feeling as same as the artist herself in a foreign land. These leaves represent all the beloved familiarities found in the new environment which makes her connected to her roots. They are the ones which keep her heart vibrant despite its broken and mended nature. She clings tightly on to these comforts which gives her strength to move forward from flickering flames of emotional difficulties. This artwork showcases the emotional challenges immigrants face and tries to enlighten other fellow immigrants the importance of clinging onto their familiarities in the new country for a smoother transition.