Adeline’s Journey by Charlene Chen

This portrait captures a single moment: a breath held, and then released, as my sister Adeline breaks through the surface of the pool. Her eyes are wide, her cheeks bright: a glimpse of wonder, still soaked in childhood.

But behind that moment is a long, quiet journey. Because the process of becoming who you are often happens out of sight, well before the surface reveals anything at all. The red, white and blue lane ropes are a subtle nod to the Taiwanese flag, a symbol of our heritage. They don’t box her in, they frame her, just as culture and family do. She rises between them, confidently, with her gaze fixed ahead.

For me, Brisbane has always been a place where identities are shaped, not just inherited. In this work, I wanted to reflect how we carry the past with us, not as a weight, but as something we emerge from, stronger and more ourselves.