Ornamentalism II
Performed at Shisanwu LLC Warehouse, July 2025
Market Warehouse, co-organized by Bungee Space, Amsterdam Warehouse, and Sheerly Touch-ya; Queens, NY
Curated by Do Tuong Linh and Serena Chang
Performed with lesser burdock
Ornamentalism II cuts into skin to make visible a history of colonial violence, using porcelain as a metaphor for Asian diasporic experiences of un-embodiment . Floral patterns from Chinese porcelain, warped into sharp bladed forms, are etched into my skin with a tattoo machine, without ink. Much like the invisibilized nature of Asian (American) strife, these marks scab and shed within weeks, leaving traces barely visible to the naked eye, only visible upon the closest scrutiny for those who know what took place.
Performed at Shisanwu Warehouse, a pantyhose import/export warehouse in Queens, NY, I am tattooed by Korean tattooer lesser burdock, lying on top of boxes labelled “Made in China” and “Made in Korea”.
Post-performance photograph (one week into healing) + audience text printout