13"x6.75"x.25"

Sterling Silver, Human Hair, Thread

[Casting, Silver Fabrication, Braiding, Stitching]

Nyonya and 小姐 are two ways of saying "young lady." Nyonya is used in Malaysia to refer to the early Chinese immigrants who have assimilated to the culture, and 小姐 is used in China for young ladies in general.

This piece shows the collar of a Kebaya, a traditional women's garment popular across all of Southeast Asia, merged with traditional Chinese forms to identify it's owner as a Chinese descendant. Whether or not the Nyonya wearing it identifies strongly with their Chinese heritage, this piece recognizes the journeys of early Chinese immigrants, who mark the origins of diverse communities across continents. Hair represents knowledge and traditions passed through generations of women, as blood and culture are as well.

10.5"x12"x4.5"

Brass, Bronze, Copper, Velvet Fabric

[Casting, Pancake Dies, Fabricated Brass Sheet, Cold Connected Fabric]

What happens when instead of being a white-washed Chinese, I am a yellow-washed American? The idea of reverse-cultural appropriation represents my experience growing up in America. I could not partake in the same traditions like Christmas and Thanksgiving with my peers, since I did not at home. However, as a child I tried my best to escape my own identity through pretending to relate to American traditions, but could never get rid of my culture.

The American pilgrim collar serves as the central form, defining my nationality on paper. However, by decorating the lucky red and gold form with symbols of China and Malaysia —durians and teapots—the pilgrim foundation cannot escape a Chinese look, the same way I could never escape either identity no matter how hard I tried.

Sterling Silver, Cubic Zirconia

Casted Paracord

This piece plays on how society considers paracord-knot bracelets as manly.

Growing up, I dreaded holidays like Thanksgiving, since they meant everything was closed … And my single dad could not cook. The Costco Rotisserie always saved the day, served on paper plates for our version of a home cooked dinner. Furthermore, relatives and tourists visiting America always visit Costco as a tourist attraction. This piece combines my childhood perception of Costco Chicken with the novelty of Costco as an experience. By altering the chicken to represent a Chinese dish rather than an American staple, the piece revisits my adolescent state of mind.

4.25”x4.75”x5.25”

Raised/Formed Copper, Liver of Sulfur