Co-curated by Joey Tong and Krystal M. Ramirez
for the Hop Space
Communities are like a collage, consisting of a variety of identities, desires, and interpersonal relationships. Each fragment contains a distinct story, but together they compose a greater narrative that speaks more than a single tale. This is the power of unity, that we gain from revisiting and respecting each other’s pasts, to reimagine our shared future.
Our Stories: Revisit the Past & Reimagine Our Future is an exhibition about power and unity. It is about you, me, and us. Calling attention to our interdependence, the exhibition acknowledges voices of the marginalized and underrepresented, to resist the grand narratives rooted in historical hierarchy and hegemony. The artworks in the show represent a greater message of challenging injustices, or socio typical norms, in a way where the narratives presented in the works bring forth perspectives from different backgrounds. With each piece highlighting its own battle or hardship, Our Stories groups these works together through the shared system in which their hardships have originated from. The works presented are direct responses to the dangerous consequences that have stemmed from racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and so on.
These are “Our Stories.” The past has been reclaimed, and the future has been awakened.
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Las comunidades son como un collage que consiste en una variedad de identidades, deseos y relaciones interpersonales. Cada fragmento contiene una historia distinta, pero juntos componen una narrativa mayor que habla más de una historia solamente. Este es el poder de la unidad que logramos a través de la revisión y el respeto del pasado de todas las personas para reimaginar nuestro futuro compartido.
Our Stories: Revisit the Past & Reimagine Our Future (Nuestras historias: Revisita el pasado y reimagina nuestro futuro) es una exposición sobre el poder y la unidad. Se trata de ti, de mí y de nosotres. Haciendo un llamado de atención sobre nuestra interdependencia, la exposición reconoce las voces de las y los marginados y sub-representados, para resistir las grandes narrativas arraigadas en la jerarquía histórica y la hegemonía. Las obras de arte en la muestra representan un mensaje amplio para desafiar las injusticias y las normas sociales, de tal manera que las narrativas presentadas en las obras provienen de perspectivas de diferentes orígenes. Con cada pieza en la cual se destaca su propia batalla o dificultad, Our Stories agrupa estos trabajos a través del sistema compartido en el que se originaron sus dificultades. Los trabajos presentados son respuestas directas a las peligrosas consecuencias derivadas del racismo, el patriarcado, el capitalismo, entre otras más.
Estas son “nuestras historias”. El pasado ha sido reclamado y el futuro se ha despertado.
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社區就像一幅拼貼畫，組合著各種不同的身份、慾望與人際關係。當中零零碎碎的每種元素都承載其獨特的故事，然而縱觀整個畫面，它們卻共同構成了一個更豐富且非單獨的敘事。這就是團結的力量，通過重新閱讀歷史及尊重彼此的過去，我們重新構想一個共同的未來。
Our Stories: Revisit the Past & Reimagine Our Future（我們的故事： 再訪過去及再想像未來）是一個關於團結與力量的展覽。它是屬於你、我和彼此的故事。展覽喚起我們對人類相互依存的關注，承認被邊緣化和代表性不足的聲音，以及抵制植根於歷史等級和霸權的宏大敘事。當中的作品帶有不同的背景與觀點，卻異口同聲地挑戰社會不公及反思社會規範。通過組合各種抗爭與艱苦的故事，展覽是一個對於體制的批判，亦是對源自種族主義、父權制、資本主義等危險後果的直接回應。
這些是「我們的故事」。過去已被重奪，未來已被喚醒。
DESCRIPTION OF ARTWORKS
M Susan Broussard
US History (forgotten), 2020
Oil on Canvas with mixed media
48 x 48 inches
Courtesy of the artist
“The oil painting collage, US History (forgotten), was created in response to the gaping holes in basic American history that I was never taught in school. The art piece started with the assembling of portraits I had painted and then sewn in place with needle and thread – intentionally reminiscent of an American patchwork quilt. But standing by itself the artwork barely scratched the surface of telling the story I wanted to tell. So, I built this website to accompany the artwork, and share some of the basic U. S. history that has been “forgotten” by so many generations.” – M Susan Broussard
To learn more about this piece: https://ushistoryforgotten.com/
Dan Kwong & Paulina Sahagun
We Were All Here, 2021
HD video, 64 minutes.
Courtesy of the artists.
This collaborative art video produced by Dan Kwong and Paulina Sahagun focuses on the La Veinte neighborhood up to the construction of the 10 Freeway in 1966, and premiered on June 26, 2021. To learn more about this project: 18thstreet.org/event/we-were-all-here/
Ameeta Nanji
Unrecognised and Unpaid, 2017
Delhi Love Song series
Recycled print media paper
17 ¼ x 21 ¼ inches.
Courtesy of the artist.
To date, 500,000 child ragpickers sustain themselves by collecting, sorting and segregating waste and then trading it. In doing so, they help clean up 62 million tonnes of waste generated annually in India. To see the entire Delhi Love Song series: https://ameetananji.crevado.com/
Ameeta Nanji
Dongria Girl, 2017
Delhi Love Song series
Recycled print media paper
17 ¼ x 21 ¼ inches
Courtesy of the artist.
The Dongria Kondh tribe inspired millions when they won a “David and Goliath’ battle against mining giant Vedanta Resources. The tribe vowed to save their Niyamgiri Hills and their self-sufficient way of life. Their lands and lives are under threat again. Mining companies are after the large deposits of bauxite. The Dongria see the government destroying their community in order to allow mining.
For more information on the Dongria Kondh: https://www.indiaresists.com/interview-anthropologist-felix-padel-on-life-and-struggle-in-niyamgiri/
To see the entire Delhi Love Song series: https://ameetananji.crevado.com/
Ameeta Nanji
Goddess, 2017
Delhi Love Song series
Recycled print media paper
17 ¼ x 21 ¼ inches
Courtesy of the artist.
Universal taboos about menstruation continue…the stigma of menstruation is a form of misogyny, the irony and hypocrisy remain; a menstruating goddess is worshipped, menstruating women are banished. When will women be celebrated and embraced for their power of creation?
To see the entire Delhi Love Song series: https://ameetananji.crevado.com/
Yrneh Gabon
Stand Firm Within, 2008.
River DeNile series
Mixed media
9 x 12 x 4 inches
Courtesy of the artist.
But a dream to be free would take more than just you and me
Look around and you’ll see, look inside you and you will find me
Stand firm, stand tall, let’s erase the writing from the walls
Stand firm within, stand tall….
To see the entire River DeNile series: https://www.yrnehgabon.com/river-de-nille-2008
To hear the artist, Yrneh Gabon, read his poem: https://qrco.de/bcHm9V
Yrneh Gabon
Freedom Unborn, 2008
River DeNile series
Mixed media
9 x 12 x 4 inches
Courtesy of the artist
Freedom still unborn banging on the doors of dawn
You gave me your books and told me your history
But why am I subject to your story when mine holds so much glory
For today is here, tomorrow’s gone
You are the reason I was born
To see the entire River DeNile series: https://www.yrnehgabon.com/river-de-nille-2008
To hear the artist, Yrneh Gabon, read his poem: https://bit.ly/3fs96TV
Yrneh Gabon
The White House, 2008
River DeNile series
Mixed media
9 x 12 x 4 inches
Courtesy of the artist.
I built the White House with these hands of my ancestors
Skin of dust, blue black, midnight chocolate brown
These hands of rusted steels are the spines inside those walls
So when I share with you how I feel, don’t throw me a frown
And chase me out of town when in front sits a fountain oozing with
Blood sweat and tears.
To see the entire River DeNile series: https://www.yrnehgabon.com/river-de-nille-2008
To hear the artist, Yrneh Gabon, read his poem: https://qrco.de/bcHmM1
Yrneh Gabon
Butterfly on the Horizon, 2008
River DeNile series
Mixed media
9 x 12 x 4 inches
Courtesy of the artist
For Eden has dried up and flowers no longer bloom
Change must come now! Or our future is doom
My colors are fading and darkness is calling
One by one butterflies are falling
And I don’t know, I just don’t know what to do
But I know I must do something
And I need you.
To see the entire River DeNile series: https://www.yrnehgabon.com/river-de-nille-2008
To hear the artist, Yrneh Gabon, read his poem: https://qrco.de/bcHuOQ
Gregg Chadwick
The Future Is Woke, 2017.
Idea of America series
Oil on linen
40 x 30 inches
Courtesy of the artist.
Artists often use their creations as a sort of reflecting device that mirrors and focuses the viewer’s attention on social and political unrest. As Marvin Gaye sang so poignantly — “What’s going on.” In the midst of recent protests in America, I took visual and auditory notes as inspiration for a series of paintings exploring this time of change. I took special note of the signs that were carried by the crowd and documented them in a series of paintings including The Future Is Woke.
To see the entire Idea of America series: https://www.greggchadwick.com/the-idea-of-america.html
