Upcoming book talk and signing of my new art and photography book, Family Amnesia: Chinese American Resilience, published by Daylight Books at Asian American / Asian Research Institute @ The City University of New York (at 25 West 43rd Street, Room 1000 in Midtown Manhattan, NYC) on Thursday, December 11th at 6pm. RSVP HERE.
My Book “Family Amnesia” was a part of International Center of Photography’s 2025 Photobook Fest
On October 3rd, I was invited by International Center of Photography (ICP) and Daylight Books to do a book signing and talk at ICP’s Photobook Fest to promote my new photography book, “Family Amnesia: Chinese American Resilience” (published by Daylight Books).
I was honored to be invited by ICP to present my book as a part of their Alumni Book Salon Talk as a part of their Living Room Series. We gathered at ICP’s Library for an afternoon of presentations, conversation and celebration of ICP alumni who presented their new books and publications.
During the salon I talked about my 10+ year journey of unpacking and uncovering my grandfather’s roots in the U.S. in the face of the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. I talked about the relevance of the book today given our current climate of heightened xenophobia, criminalization of immigrants and unlawful kidnapping of our (im)migrant neighbors. I hope that this book resonates with other Asian American and immigrant communities.
Sharing some photos below - of me with my fellow speakers - Ibi Ibrahim and Ana Vallejo/ It was so lovely to run into the great photographer, Lorie Novak who was also my photography professor at New York University over 25 years ago.
ABOUT the Book:
Family Amnesia: Chinese American Resilience is a visual tribute and love letter honoring my Chinese American family roots in the U.S. The art book explores my family's multi-generational resilience and resistance through mixed media collages, my grandfather’s photographs, my own captured images and archival material. The book project honors the past and current lives of Asian Americans and immigrants in the U.S. by examining the incalculable and traumatic impact that historical events like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act continue to have on the Asian American experience. This is a painful part of our American history. I am reclaiming that narrative through my own personal family’s story. The book will feature my grandfather’s role as a founding member of the Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance of NY, my mother’s plight as a garment worker who became a labor organizer, and my sister’s legacy as a community activist. I know my family story is not unique. It is part of the larger collective Asian-American immigration experience.
If you missed this event please come through for my book talk and signing on Dec 11th at CUNY’s Asian American / Asian Research Institute. Click here to RSVP
For more about my new book or to order it CLICK HERE
PRESS about the book:
July 24th's Launch of My New Book at Magnum Foundation: Family Amnesia: Chinese American Resilience
On July 24th Magnum Foundation and Daylight Books co-hosted an artist talk and conversation celebrating the launch of my new art and photography book, Family Amnesia: Chinese American Resilience. The evening included an artist talk, short reading from my book and conversation between myself and artist Rochelle Kwan who is also the founder of Chinatown Records. We talked about our work and the importance of uncovering our family roots, intergenerational memory work and its impact on the social, political and cultural landscape within our communities. This was capped off by a signing of my book.
It was amazing to share this launch event, experience and book with my family. I’m so thankful for the support from my partner, John, my sweet 3 year old son Junius and of course my fearless mom, Sau Kwan.
About the book:
Family Amnesia: Chinese American Resilience is a visual tribute and love letter honoring my Chinese American family roots in the U.S. The art book explores my family's multi-generational resilience and resistance through mixed media collages, my grandfather’s photographs, my own captured images and archival material. The book project honors the past and current lives of Asian Americans and immigrants in the U.S. by examining the incalculable and traumatic impact that historical events like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act continue to have on the Asian American experience. This is a painful part of our American history. I am reclaiming that narrative through my own personal family’s story. The book will feature my grandfather’s role as a founding member of the Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance of NY, my mother’s plight as a garment worker who became a labor organizer, and my sister’s legacy as a community activist. I know my family story is not unique. It is part of the larger collective Asian-American immigration experience.
Photo Credit: @daylightbooks @magnumfoundation
If you missed this event please come through for my book talk and signing on Dec 11th at CUNY’s Asian American / Asian Research Institute. Click here to RSVP
For more about my new book or to order it CLICK HERE
PRESS about the book:
Join me for the launch of my art and photography book, Family Amnesia: Chinese American Resilience
Join me for the launch of my art and photography book, Family Amnesia: Chinese American Resilience on Thursday, July 24th from 6:30-8pm at the Magnum Foundation (59 E 4th St, #7W in Manhattan, NYC), co-hosted by Magnum Foundation and Daylight Books.
The evening will feature a conversation between me and artist Rochelle Kwan as we discuss our work of uncovering family roots and the importance of intergenerational memory work. The evening will end with a Q&A and book signing. Light refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP Here.
I have been working on this book project, Family Amnesia for four years. It has been a labor of love that has brought me deep joy, self-reflection and gratitude. It’s been an incredible journey getting to this point. Over the past four years, I’ve experienced life changing events - the birth of my son, the passing of my dad and now I’m 8 months pregnant. I’m thankful to my family, friends and Daylight Books (publisher) for their support throughout this journey.
Family Amnesia is a visual tribute and love letter honoring my Chinese American family roots in the U.S. The art book explores my family's multi-generational resilience and resistance through mixed media collages, my grandfather’s photographs, my own captured images and archival material.
The book project honors the past and current lives of Asian Americans and immigrants in the U.S. by examining the incalculable and traumatic impact that historical events like the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act continue to have on the Asian American experience. This is a painful part of our American history. I am reclaiming that narrative through my own personal family’s story. The book features my grandfather’s role as a founding member of the Chinese Hand Laundry Alliance of NY, my mother’s plight as a garment worker who became a labor organizer, and my sister’s legacy as a community activist. I know my family story is not unique. It is part of the larger collective Asian-American immigration experience.
This book stands against the cultural, social and political erasure of not only four generations of my own family in the U.S. but pays homage to the hundreds of thousands of C hinese American families who share similar experiences. Bringing our stories to the foreground is an act of resistance. My book is also an act of love.
I started working on this book back in 2020 during an upsurge in attacks on Asian Americans, the spread of racial justice uprisings, and the rise of Movement for Black Lives. Now, in 2025 we find ourselves fighting for our basic human and civil rights under the right wing fascist Trump administration. There has never been a more critical moment for artists to connect to audiences through our work, to try to deepen our impact, and to help shift the nation’s consciousness by changing hearts and minds.
I hope that readers will be able to relate to the experiences, sentiment and spirit of the book. Fighting for self-determination and dignity are universal values. While the book highlights struggles and hardships it also celebrates the joy of living and the joy in resistance.
My grandparents in NYC during Chinese Exclusion in the 1950’s, 2020-23, from the series was part of the Brooklyn Artists Exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum (October 4th 2024 - January 26th, 2025)
This work is from my new art and photography book, Family Amnesia which will be released in Summer 2025. The work is a visual tribute and love letter honoring my Chinese American family roots in the U.S. The art book explores my family's multi-generational resilience and resistance through mixed media collages, my grandfather’s photographs, my own captured images and archival material.
My grandparents in NYC during Chinese Exclusion in the 1950’s, 2020-23, from the series was part of the Brooklyn Artists Exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum (October 4th 2024 - January 26th, 2025)
"Working Stories" Part of "Invisible Hands" Exhibition at 601 Artspace (July 22 - Sept. 17th, 2023)
Please check out some of my work, on view now that is part of 601Artspace (at 88 Eldridge St. in Chinatown/LES) current group exhibition 𝙄𝙣𝙫𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨, on view through September 17, 2023. Gallery hours: Thursday-Sunday, 1-6pm.
The exhibition is curated by Emireth Herrera Valdés
Thank you to Johanna and Audrey for sharing your stories with me. These are selections from a project that was first a part of a public street sign installation project for @highlinenyc
About the my piece from their press release:
“Betty Yu's ‘Working Stories’ examines the effects of gentrification and displacement on low-income working-class people in the Chelsea neighborhood of NYC. Featuring an aluminum sign portraying a female domestic worker protesting with the Domestic Workers Alliance, along with portraits and audio interviews of two nannies Yu interviewed, the artwork showcases the activism of domestic workers seeking greater rights and better working conditions regardless of their legal status.”
– Emireth Herrera Valdés
And thanks to Stephen Gambello of Tussle Magazine Projects for the thoughtful review:
“Betty Yu's "Working Stories" (2019) invites us to reflect on the plight of domestic workers in their own words. Flanking a steel plaque protesting the violation of domestic workers' rights, we find two portraits of nannies who were interviewed for this project. Recordings of these individuals express their impressions and frustrations regarding the injustices they endure, such as long hours and low pay. Listening to their perspectives takes us beyond our context and grants us a genuine understanding of how their existence is compromised. Their experiences become our own at that moment, immersing us in a tangible and genuine connection to their lives.”
*Photo of Betty Yu standing in front of her work and installation photo is by Go Sugimoto