Understanding the nuances among different Asian communities requires an acknowledgment of the region-dependent challenges faced by Asian creatives. Amidst Lulu and Ariana’s projects and conversations with Asian artists globally, core challenges of creatives became increasingly evident due to regional and political constraints. Ariana explains that in regions like China or Uzbekistan, where artistic expression is heavily censored, works that deviate from the political norm—especially those involving LGBTQ+ themes—often find little room for publication. She also highlights the often-overlooked cultural contributions of Central Asian artists on the global stage. Though this form of nuanced media touches on numerous political agendas, Ariana articulates a focus on “[criticizing] structures and systems rather than individual perpetrators,” providing new perspectives rather than merely pointing out existing problems. 

This nuanced media is often buried beneath the flood of content in today’s internet and social media landscape. Far Near offers a space where these neglected stories can be shared, resonating well with an audience that values the complexity of social, cultural, and political nuances. Ariana raises an important question—rather than engaging with the predictable cycle of Asian representation through corporate Lunar New Year tributes, how can Asian artists’ visibility stay relevant independent of trends? They advocate for nuance, driven by individual experiences, which deems more powerful than umbrella narratives to steer away from orientalism and carve out a new path for well-informed media consumption.