About

In June 2021, we (Karen & Annie) started off with one Facetime call… trying to brainstorm possible creative projects for the summer. But, of course, we ended up chatting for the whole hour, just sharing about our experiences growing up as Asian youth in two different countries. This is when we had the inspiration for this virtual installation-- creating a space for individuals to storytell their AAPI experiences. As we live an entire ocean apart (2703 miles to be exact), we decided to challenge ourselves to create this project entirely virtually.

When creating this virtual installation, we wanted to ensure that the collective was created with the inclusion of the AAPI community in mind-- representing cultures from Far East, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands. This installation aims to not only capture diversity in gender and geographic location, but also has a mixture of both well-known AAPI artists and every-day AAPI youth who utilized art for their creative expression and outlet.

Karen Abe

Born and raised on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi, Karen grew up with a strong connection to the AAPI community through her identity as a Hawaiʻi local and first-generation Japanese immigrant. From going to Japanese school on Saturdays to dancing hula since the age of 3, Karen’s upbringing has often served as inspiration for much of her media works. Karen hopes that her works will encourage other AAPI youth, to pursue their passions for art.

Annie Zheng

Originally from Vancouver, Canada,
Annie has had her fair share of struggles with her cultural identity. From whitewashing her cultural preferences and aesthetic tastes to religiously watching C-Dramas to "learn" Mandarin, Annie's journey to both cultural and creative self-discovery has come a long way. Her most recent works explore
this journey, with her latest project focusing on East Asian folklore.