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My Name is Impossible to Know Zine
Page 1 consists of 6 square panels with a light blue background. Panel 1 shows the author gesturing to the reader with one hand, saying, “so I have a name that’s impossible to know.” Panel 2-6 features a purple bubble on top of each panel with words representing the author’s internal thoughts while the rest of the panel demonstrates scenarios that happened. Panel 2’s purple bubble says, “It sounds like everything.” (“It” referring to the author’s name). Below the purple bubble, a group of speech bubbles illustrate a conversation between the author and a person. It reads: Author: “Hi, I’m Liyao” Person: “Leah?” Author: No, Liyao.” Person: “Leo!” Author: “Liyao.” Person: “Leanne?” Author: “No, it’s L-I-Y-A-O.” Panel 3’s purple bubble says, “And spelling it out doesn’t help.” Below the bubble, the conversation from Panel 2 continues: Author: “No, it’s L-I-Y-A-O.” Person: “L-Y-I-A-O” Author: “No, it’s–” Person: “L-A-Y-A-O?” Author: “No, L-I-Y-” Person: “... E-O! L-I-Y-E-O!” Author: “...” Panel 4’s purple bubble says: “Apparently my last name also blends with my first name.” Below, a conversation between the author and a customer service representative reads: Representative: “Okay. L-I-Y-A-O. And last name?” Author: “Liao.” Representative: “No, ma’am. Your last name please.” Author: “That is my last name!” Representative: “Sorry. Then what is your first name?” Author: “what” Panel 5’s purple bubble says: “At cafes, I stopped giving my real name.” Below the bubble, the author points a finger at a barista off-screen, who says, “can I have a name for the order?” The author says, “just L-Y!” Panel 6’s purple bubble says: “But even so, they get it wrong.” Below, a barista shouts, “Order for ‘Ly’ please!” Beside the word “Ly”, there’s an asterisk which leads to an explanation below the page. The explanation reads” “I always say the letters L-Y, but people mistake it for the Vietnamese name Ly. (pronounced “Lee”).
Page 4 features a single panel which says, “My name comes from a culture that is thousands of years old, laced with the history of my people, my clan, and my family.” In the background is a full-colored illustration of the Great Wall of China smoking in the back amidst green rolling hills, and a line of people dressed in ancient Chinese clothing emerging from the wall towards the foreground, carrying their belongings in a journey of migration.

My Name is Impossible to Know Zine

$8.00

This 12-page zine reflects on the artist’s Chinese name and the hope it carries.

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