Gao Lanyi is a conceptual artist based in New York, NY dedicated to facilitating constructive dialogues based on shared female experiences. In her most recent work, Gao explores the balance between righteousness and sarcasm. Appropriating My Melody, a 90s cartoon character from the Japanese company Sanrio, the artist brings forth her own cultural perspective when considering female power. Sparking an uncanny dialogue between My Melody and the viewer, Gao infuses an atypical charm and wittiness into the cutesy feminine icon. She attempts to transform the grief of gender inequality into positive energy by speaking to the often disheartening realities of female presenting individuals via this traditionally tender lens.