Many of my interests and curiosities lean towards the quiet, the subtle. I often wonder how we can lean a bit closer to ourselves, others, truth, nature. My hope is the work I create will help to amplify the voices of Asian American women, making our narratives more visible while building connection and accessibility in all communities.

 

This series was made March 2020 while in quarantine during an Artist Residency in Japan. Concurrent with the residency, I was also enrolled in an online Poisonous Plant Medicine course. With the rise of COVID-19 and daily mask wearing, during my time in isolation, I reflected on the internal masks we all wear. What do we hide from? Who do we wish to be? 

 

Collecting dried or fallen leaves and flowers, I would amuse myself in my tiny room, placing them over my face like a mask. As we wear our physical masks to protect ourselves and others against the virus, these harmless plant masks symbolize protection against the digital versions of deadly plants. A twisted, whimsical play on the parallels of safety and toxicity.

 

There is an overpopulation of us.

We are selfish.

We are self important.  

The earth is slowly dying.

Are we healers?

We are killers.