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Ouyang Nana Reveals Years of Inner Turmoil Over Feeling Rootless

From Liberty Times · () Chinese

Translated from Chinese and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Ouyang Nana spoke about her deep-seated insecurity and confusion about her home, which began when she left home at age 12.
  • She described her life as constantly moving, comparing hotels to temporary homes and feeling a lack of belonging.
  • The artist found a sense of healing and belonging years later, attributing it to supportive friends and family.

Taiwanese-Canadian artist Ouyang Nana has revealed the profound emotional impact of her early departure from home, describing years of inner turmoil and a persistent feeling of rootlessness. Leaving home at the age of 12 to study abroad, followed by frequent travel for her burgeoning career, led to a life where hotels often served as her primary residence.

Where is my home?

— Ouyang NanaOuyang Nana expressing her childhood confusion and insecurity about her sense of belonging due to her nomadic lifestyle.

This nomadic existence created a deep sense of insecurity for the young artist. She confessed to constantly questioning, "Where is my home?" The lack of a stable sense of belonging felt like a constant ache, a "needle stuck in my heart," as she put it. This feeling, she explained, fueled her tendency towards introspection and melancholy, despite outward appearances of bravery.

I always felt that the home I was studying in might only be for one semester and I would have to move again. After returning, I had to work, and life was always wandering.

— Ouyang NanaOuyang Nana describing her feeling of impermanence during her studies and early career.

Years after graduating and establishing her career, Ouyang Nana has gradually found a sense of belonging. She credits this healing process to the constant companionship of "lovely roommates" and, most importantly, the comforting stability of home. The presence of her family and her dog provides a grounding force that helps her navigate external doubts and past hurts.

It's like a needle stuck in my heart.

— Ouyang NanaOuyang Nana comparing her long-term lack of belonging to a persistent, painful sensation.

Her family has also expanded their presence in China, with her sisters Ouyang Nini and Ouyang Didi also pursuing careers there. The sisters recently appeared together on the reality show "It's Daughter, It's Mother," while Didi debuted in the limited girl group "Gen1es" after participating in the Thai-Chinese survival show "Chuang Asia."

Returning home to my little dog, and your family is always there.

— Ouyang NanaOuyang Nana describing the grounding effect of returning home to her family and pet.
About this summary

Originally published by Liberty Times in Chinese. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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