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