[Interview] New Yorker illustrator says Asian Americans need recognition

\"So many mothers and grandmothers have been targeted, many on the subway. I imagined my own mom in that situation\"

Cartoonist R. Kikuo Johnson's illustration, "Safe Travels," for the Aug. 20, 2018 issue of the New Yorker (screenshot from rkikuojohnson.com)

Cartoonist R. Kikuo Johnson\

An Asian mother-daughter duo waits for a train on a subway platform in New York City. The mother, whose gesture indicates a sense of unease, raises her eyebrows while her daughter remains aware of her surroundings. There is no apparent danger in the illustration, but the image’s viewer hopes the pair makes it to their destination safely.

The illustration, titled "Delayed," is the cover for the April 5 issue of the New Yorker by Asian American cartoonist R. Kikuo Johnson. Since its publication, the cover has been lauded for its portrayal of the anxiety Asian Americans feel following anti-Asian attacks.

In an email interview with the Hankyoreh Wednesday, Johnson said, "I wanted [the mother-daughter pair] to be very alert and anxious without appearing overtly fearful."

Johnson's illustration resonated with many in the US. Korean American author Jenny Han tweeted, "The way R. Kikuo Johnson captures this moment and simultaneously breaks my heart." The New Yorker, in an interview piece with the cartoonist, called the image "a delicate balancing act, all about timing and tension."

R. Kikuo Johnson

Johnson, born and raised on the island of Maui in Hawaii, has been living in Brooklyn, New York, since 2016, working mostly on editorial illustrations. He took on the recent project following the March 16 shootings in Atlanta. He said he started by revisiting news coverage of anti-Asian hate crimes one article at a time.

"So many mothers and grandmothers have been targeted, many on the subway. I imagined my own mom in that situation. I thought about my grandma and my aunt, who have been among my greatest sources of support," the cartoonist said.

Johnson said that Asian hate is relatively invisible, as the discourse on race has predominantly been about black vs. white.

For instance, US authorities have yet to label the Atlanta spa shootings a hate crime. A local police officer instead mentioned "sex addiction" as a possible motive behind the shootings.

Johnson wanted to bring the issue of Asian hate to light.

"There is no single image that will speak to everyone, but I hope some people feel seen and recognized by the cover. Asian American issues are seldom addressed in broader American culture. I just hope people find truth in the image," he said.