Steel, wood, foam

Communication remains to be one of the most important but forgotten elements of a relationship. If we are devoid of outside stimulus and only focus on the other’s voice, are we more compelled to listen, to be empathetic?

“The act of listening is based on interaction rather than simply reception...Listening is fundamentally about being in relationship to another and through this relationship supporting change or transformation. By listening to others, the listener is called on to respond”

(Schultz, 2003, p. 9) [Schultz, K. (2003). Listening: A framework for teaching across differences. New York: Teachers College Press.]

poplar, ripstop nylon, polyfil,

In this piece, I am thinking about the collective strengths and outcomes of collaboration. In woven cloth, individual threads become a strong structure through the process of weaving, linking, and intersecting. In a similar sense, when people work together, not only are physical connections made but also perhaps connections made from human to human. I question what can be made through a communal process of free play.

process

pine, paracord, canvas, polyfil

What are the different conflicts, joys, and compromises made throughout the exploration of a relationship? How much are we willing to work and give to maintain a balance? 

Inspired by the women who unite in public squares to dance or practice qigong, these dandelions sway in a choir, reminding us how kind it is to move with a mindful stillness. Dandelions are resilient and ready for change. After their bloom, they let the wind carry their seeds into an unknown for a new generation. I think of my ancestors and family that twirled together, I wonder what's to come as I dance on American soil today.

In collaboration with Close Isn’t Home x Digital Artist Residency
March Winds

A zine that explores the many ways we receive care: through daily acts of self nourishment, family, and self pleasure.

In collaboration with Yiyi Han & Theresa-Xuan Bui

For Gourd Friend

You’re missing your family and haven’t seen them in a while. Phone calls replace physical presence with intimate conversation. Is that enough to remedy homesickness? From interviewing people in our community on the topic of home and family, we begin to understand the complex relationships between people and place. Our attachment to home is connected to the support and care that our family gave us. Now that you are away from home, what is it that you are missing? When was the last time you called home? 

Homesick Hotline is a collaboration between Kathy Guo and Anna Huff. It is a functional phone line system where anyone in the U.S. can call in and listen to pre-recorded strangers talk about their families. We wanted to understand a few questions: What is it that makes home worth missing or not missing at all? How does the love we receive from our families translate to how we show love to others in our community? By listening to the curated topics, people can experience an illusion of intimacy with people they will never meet. The recorded responses are clips from 16 different interviews, which were then manually transcribed onto our Hotline Directory. The audio was edited and organized into different topics which were then inputted into the designed phone line system on a service called Twillio.

The Hotline Directory is also for sale to keep the phone line up and running. Purchase by clicking here: Homesick Hotline: A Directory

process

Pine, Basswood

Inspired by the exercise leg swings in Chinese public parks, Semi-Permeable: An instrument that can only function when two people are balanced on the hinged platforms. The balance then allows for a collaborative and intimate walk or swaying. One person's movement is dependent on the other's.

process

Pine, Ash, Plywood, Nylon, Paracord, Polyfill

An attempt to remember what it felt like to be cradled in my mother’s arms.

PROCESS

216" x 4"
hand-dyed cotton woven in double cloth

Seemingly harmless everyday microaggressions build up and strangle over time. My identity is left with nothing but your assumptions about me.

36" x 36" x 36"
starch resist dye on cotton print, plastic vinyl, batting, PVC pipes

This XL tissue box, inspired by my childhood hiding closets, serves as a therapeutic space to heal, hide from stimulus, and to bring a regular sized tissue box into accompany you.