CHINA PALACE
CHINA PALACE is an evocative re-creation of the Chinese American restaurant operated by the artist’s family in a small town in Wisconsin from the mid-eighties to early aughts. The installation brings together decorative objects from the original restaurant, tables, laser-cut screens, paper flowers, and prints.
Photos by Bryan Feinzimer, Courtesy of USC Pacific Asia Museum
CHINA PALACE was featured in the exhibition Another Beautiful Country, Moving Images by Asian American Artists at USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, CA. Curated by Jenny Lin, PhD, Another Beautiful Country draws its name from the Chinese translation of America (美國/měiguó) and the American-born Chinese abbreviation, ABC. Featured artworks portray nuanced interplays between Chinese American identities and representations, challenging conventional notions of nationhood. Through cinematic strategies including staging and experimental documentary, exhibited artists present transnational relations, familial dynamics, and intimate tales of migration.
Photos by Peter Perigo, Courtesy of USC Pacific Asia Museum
Photos by the artist.
Photo by Peter Perigo, Courtesy of USC Pacific Asia Museum
The back wall of the installation features three screenprints on aluminum depicting silk qipaos, traditional Chinese dresses, belonging to the mothers of the artist and the curator. Photographs of the qipaos folded, draped, and worn were digitally manipulated and overlaid with patterns copied from ancient Chinese bronze vessels and mirrors to create the hand-printed cmyk screenprints.
Images: Petals Undone, Red Dress, Perfect Brightness, CMYK screenprint on aluminum, 2019. Photo by the artist.