A piece of paper blows across a neighborhood road, the breeze flinging the flimsy drawing from street to street. As the paper rolls under cars and over speed bumps, the asphalt smudges the charcoal drawing of a young child and speckles it with dust. Trailing the unassuming, seemingly discarded artwork, Iris Fu (12) holds a camera in their hand, recording each flip and tumble of the paper.

The result: “ode to my five-year-old self,” a fifteen minute performance video, displayed in stills, that captures the directionless, curious wanderings of a young child who is completely under the influence of nature. Iris created the piece to reflect on their relationship with their Chinese heritage and how it evolved over time. The process of recreating a childhood drawing with charcoal and filming its journey through the neighborhood serves as a bridge between their current and younger selves.

Iris started taking art classes when they were five years old, but after frosh year, their interests shifted from drawing to photography. Though art was always a part of Iris’s life, they found their favorite medium, conceptual photography, towards the end of sophomore year. Iris enjoys how this style allows them to learn more about themselves during the creation and curation process.

“My favorite part about doing art is how much you discover about yourself,” Iris said. “Because I push myself to the very limits, I find out a lot of new things about myself, and I see the world in a different way.”

Iris’s explorations in art also drive the way they conceptualize their identity. In certain pieces, they focus on the impact of white supremacist power and consumerism on the teenage experience. Through their art, they strive to explore their sexuality and address inequality.

“I’m personally really intrigued by the concept of time, especially as it relates to my LGBTQIA+ queerness,” Iris said. “There’s this general sentiment that through age, and through living through time, things will improve themselves. A lot of my work is trying to subvert or dissuade that narrative.”

Although Iris spent much of their childhood learning traditional art, drawing and painting did not appeal to them as much as the storytelling and abstraction in conceptual photography. Often, her pieces take the form of graded format works, using time to display a series of meaningful shots sequentially, similar to a stop-motion film. Her pieces, which often consist of several photos, require extensive curation. Visual arts department chair and art teacher Joshua Martinez expresses gratitude and admiration for their work ethic.

“Iris will make more work than anyone else in the class,” Martinez said. “That’s the type of leader that an art class needs. I’m always super thankful for that.”

Iris’s dedication to fostering inclusivity and diversity is apparent in the AP portfolio they created in AP Studio Art as well as their empathy and respect towards peers. Close friend Pavitra Kasthuri (10) admires the way Iris can make anyone feel heard and appreciated.

“Iris is a nurturer,” Pavitra said. “They really thrive in situations where they’re able to facilitate meaningful conversation and truly understand someone on a deeper level.”

Iris’s empathy towards others as well as their steadfast diligence in catalyzing change in society led them to join the Student Diversity Coalition in their junior year. Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and SDC adviser Brian Davis appreciates Iris’s constant work to improve their fellow students’ school experience.

“Iris is selfless,” Davis said. “I don’t think Iris, for the time I’ve known them, has done anything for their own personal gain. It’s always been about the community, always been about their peers and the Harker community at large. Iris is really deeply rooted in their values and morals, and that’s what drives them in the work that they do here.”

Under the guidance of Davis, Iris collaborates with her fellow SDC members to implement changes to the Student Handbook that address students’ mental health. Alongside their school advocacy work, Iris explores the way socioeconomic status relates to diversity, a topic they hope to explore in college. As an SDC member, Iris came to accept and even relish their love for controversial topics.

“I don’t like being affirmed, I like being wrong,” Iris said. “It’s kind of like my favorite thing in the world. There’s a little inside joke between my English class, Art of Poetry and Fiction, that I always enjoy the most controversial pieces of work that everybody hates. I really like being confused, and I like not knowing the answer. I love it.”

Iris embraces the fact that in both policy work and art, there is often not one right solution. Their open-mindedness and willingness to acknowledge and support unpopular opinions sets them apart from peers. Though most people prefer to stay within their comfort zone, Iris finds that sometimes, being disoriented helps them stay grounded.

“Being able to always be uncomfortable and challenge myself using my art, using my politics, having these uncomfortable discussions, is really what is keeping me afloat in all the chaos that is going on in the world right now,” Iris said.

Iris’s willingness to step out of their comfort zone and create change-inducing art inspires peers and staff alike. Library director Lauri Vaughan, Iris’s adviser, anticipates that Iris’s unwavering commitment to inspiring change through their art will make a meaningful impact within the Harker community and beyond.

“I hope they always embrace their artistic self, because there’s some magic going on there that’s like, whoa, and they’re just getting started,” Vaughan said. “If someday we all hear about Iris Fu, I wouldn’t be surprised in any realm. And no matter what realm it will be, there will be a bit of magic and art involved in that.”