Hidden in Plain Sight, 2022
Hidden in Plain Sight explores the intersections of urban development and cultural memory. Bilingual street signs serve as markers of cultural identity and symbols of community spirit. In response to recent urban development in San Francisco's Chinatown, I focus on the street names Grant Ave. and Stockton St. to represent the past and present of the Chinese-American community. The installation includes bilingual street names printed with Chinese cooking sauces, with reversed English text as a poetic gesture of displacement. This work urges us to recognize the subtle forces reshaping our sense of belonging and highlights the importance of preserving community identity amid an evolving urban landscape.
Commissioned by Chinese Culture Center for the Present Tense Biennial: Perilous Playground