This piece was created for the NYCxDesign exhibition co-curated by Lora Appleton (Female Design Council/kinder MODERN) + Andrea Hill (Tortuga Forma) featuring both lauded and emerging AAPI, female-identified artists & designers of all backgrounds, acknowledging the diversity within the Asian community; the differences and beauty within.

“The act of gazing at oneself can bring up complex emotions where the past and present collide. It can cause discomfort, fomenting self-criticality, or it can prompt feelings of reflection, pride and empowerment. The design of this vanity borrows elements from Chinese altar tables, which were traditionally used to worship ancestors. The mirror, with its undulating shape, is a reference to the stylized botanical motifs found in Hawaiian quilts, which allude to my experience growing up in Hawaii.

I was raised by a Chinese immigrant mother and Chinese-American father, surrounded by Chinese culture and values. Other Asian cultures and Hawaiian culture were also very prevalent in my community and for those who could claim part (hapa) Hawaiian ancestry, it was a real source of pride in the islands.

The Chinese Altar table symbolizes such confucian ideas as filial piety, humility, self sacrifice, and sits in conflict with the purpose of the vanity, a western invention used for displaying beautifying paraphernalia and for essentially paying tribute to oneself. This design sits at the intersection of Eastern, Pacific, and Western influences, reflecting my experience of various cultural traditions.”

Exhibition:
Upon Further Reflection
May 20-25, 2023
3.1 Phillip Lim, NYC

CONTACT THE STUDIO for more information.