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: