a few photos from winter reviews:

here is my artist statement:
process collaboration frustration complexity conceptualize communicate language type image confusion production ridiculous critical identity self-identification culture race ethnicity categorization data information observation design two-dimensional tension conflict concise contrast juxtaposition research experiments failure words mind-mapping bright color in-between blunt clean accountable thinking interpreting visual questioning discover lost lists impulse meticulous geography place space configuration efficiency evolving stubborn constant relationship intersecting experience

and the descriptions for both of the projects:
Question number nine
Digital prints
Winter 2010

This series of portraits explores the categorizations of people – judgements and assumptions made that were only skin-deep. The project’s name comes from question number nine on the 2010 census – “what is person 1’s race?” Every person photographed experienced an awkward situation about their race or ethnic group because of a snap judgement based on their appearances alone. Through this series of portraits, custom-made t-shirts correct any stereotypes that might be made, avoiding awkwardness and pre-judgement (almost) altogether. People are categorized by what they are not – and for once, it makes life simpler.
Special thanks to Thomas Martinez for help with lighting and photography.

SE Powell
Digital Prints
Winter 2010

SE Powell in Portland, Oregon is a strange mishmash of culture and language, most evident by not only its inhabitants but the signs in many languages that line the streets. These signs act as markers for people of similar language and national heritage to connect – a “safe space” of like-minded (and like-tongued) people to forge cultural communities of their own.

But do these same signs, bent on drawing certain language-speakers in, serve to keep non-language speakers out? How are these words and characters interpreted by someone who cannot read them and finds no coherent meaning? Do such signs indicate who should be in these shops and who shouldn’t be?

For such a store, a shopkeeper might have very different expectations of a member of their own ethnicity – a deeper understanding and cultural connection than someone from an outer group. As a Taiwanese-Chinese-American (and someone who speaks very little Chinese), I inhabit the liminal space between ethnic acceptance and outgroup bewilderment – I cannot entirely understand a language that, because of my race and assumptions, I am expected to know. Language becomes a source of tension because I only partially understand what is happening.

Thank you to Andrew Parnell for helping me with hanging all of the prints.