Abstract
This was an inner conversation between me and my fear. It is a study of Chinese immigrant women’s intergenerational communication and social connections. It was an exploration of the art object’s independent quality, their cultural, historical, social attachments, and their relational aesthetics in the space with the artist and audiences.
I started the project by researching Chinese immigrant history. Then narrowed down to women Chinese immigrants’ live experiences. Later began interviews with older female Chinese immigrants in the Portland area. The distinct difference in lifestyle between generations shifted my focus to intergenerational communication. To be able to compare and contrast, I sat down with people in my close social circle and a few Japanese, Indian women immigrants to ask for their thoughts and memories.
Along with these communications and conversations, the interviewees also participated in natural dyeing workshops, donated their fabric objects and personal items that represent their memories, provided drawings and writings to be attached to the fabric works I made. Four performances were hosted to be part of the social engagement context. Through the efforts of me and the people who participated in the interviews and performances, we created a body of works that tell the stories of the women.
The physical work contains four series of fabric installations. Some natural dyed fabric hanging pieces, two large wooden framed patches, some fabric sticks on wood structures, some cut and collaged pants pockets. Most of them are flowing in the air in space. Fish lines and katestrings tight one side to them, go though the beam, and another side tight to a heavy ceramic sculpture. These works merge into each other in the installation without clear separation areas/spaces like an abstract painting. After one and half years of research, writing, conversations, and making, I came to the conclusion that both my art and life is to find togetherness and inclusion. From my side, I sincerely approach the world with my art and try hard to connect. To the world, I call out for love and respect.
Artist Statement
My daughter loved to sing out her thoughts just like me. But unlike me, she sang about her freedom before learning how to put on her own clothes. My mother lived her life for her husband, tried to be a helpful wife, sad and angry but never could leave. I left, divorced, when I saw myself sad and angry. My grandma loved fabric and thread, did embroidery till 80 years old, but never left the village. I felt the same about embroidery, but not about the village.
The theme of women intergenerational storytelling naturally emerged as my work is autobiographical. The unseen struggles caused by fear of change and aging under my seemingly positive everyday life continued to lead to more failure in maintaining human connections. All the new and aged scars hidden within told stories of the most loved and avoided, reflected the intergenerational communication and miscommunication, as well as the identity transformation and regeneration under the shift and change of cultural, historical, and political environments.
Combining mix-media materials, indepth research, performance, interview, and workshop, I explore the relationships of independent qualities in materials, accumulated energy in space, cultural and personal memories in objects, confusions and fear in me, and stories from interviewees and audiences. Personal stories are transformed into objects in space. Social engagement gives art the power to connect and to heal. All I want is to offer a moment of sharing and exchange, for my interviewees, for audiences, and for me.