Embodied Identities Curatorial Statement
Our identities as Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are shaped by our racial and ethnic identities and cultural understandings interwoven with our embodied experiences, but what it means to be part of the AAPI community lies beyond our shared biological traits and overlapping ancestral histories. Even the language that we use to categorize and define ourselves, though powerful, is highly imperfect and constantly evolving in response to new considerations. Some of us feel tethered to the cultural norms of our communities, resisting and embracing different elements over time. Others feel closely tethered to the white gaze and the stereotypes projected onto our communities and ourselves. How are the cultural norms of our communities reflected in our bodily expressions? How do our bodies offer opportunities for liberation and healing from the stereotypes projected onto us? The artists included in this exhibition explore how identity is deeply connected with, but not limited by, our physical selves.