as it was meant to be told: AAPI Artists on Selfhood and Belonging

In contemporary society, self-portraiture is an act of reclamation and a declaration of selfhood. Through the use of photography, video, and sculpture, four artists find their voices and express the complexities of their life experiences. Their approach to imagining the self is multifaceted and involves more than just depictions of a physical body; their portraits are reflections of the ancestral stories, cultural traditions, and modern realities that shape their identity.

Through the intimate act of turning the camera towards themselves, they invite the viewer to reflect and bear witness to their existence. This exhibition is a mode of self-discovery, a celebration of cultural heritage, and a call to embrace the complexity of the Asian American Pacific Islander experience. Each artist is at a different point in their artistic journey, yet their images transcend time, age, and society.

Artists: Jamie Ho, Hyerim Hwang, Jesse Ly, Osamu James Nakagawa

Curator: Emily Wiethorn, Assistant Professor of Art & Design