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     My identity as an adopted Asian American artist has greatly impacted my artistic inspirations and worldview when creating art. Recently I have experimented with the versatility of paper during the pandemic period. Due to several supply and studio space limitations, paper has been the ideal medium to work with. The accessibility of paper and my desire to learn about my cultural history directed me to the art of origami and paper folding. 

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     My current body of work contrasts the historical longevity of ceramics, strength of metal, and the ephemerality of paper as a medium. While the history of ceramic vessels can be traced back as early as 28,000 BCE and metalworking has existed long before the Iron Age, paper artifacts and craft have a temporal value. 

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     The method of Golden Venture folding I utilize in my work was popularized in 1993 when a ship called the Golden Venture ran aground on Rockaway Beach, New York. Many of the 286 migrants onboard were from China’s Fujian Province, and due to strict immigration policies at the time, they were placed in prison. During their imprisonment, many folded and assembled various paper sculptures which were sold or donated to those who supported them. In 2017, there was an exhibition at the Museum of Chinese in America (MOCA) that showcased numerous sculptures from those detained in York, Pennsylvania. The rich cultural history behind Golden Venture folding contains aspects of craft and community evident in my own work. Each piece I make displays my interest in intricate and clean design, but also focuses on exploring my own identity and place within my community. The recycled printer paper I use to form the origami pieces are hand torn and folded to encapsulate the memories of those I obtained the papers from. I am interested in how representations of individual units, people, and experiences can come together to create something much bigger than oneself. By building these vessels I wish to juxtapose the characteristics of clay, metal, and paper as art mediums. 

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