So much of Asian American diaspora is about filling in the blanks in recorded history about the contributions and the lives of Asian Americans. This series was inspired by the anecdotal history of 10-15 Chinese immigrants buried under mining waste in Nevada. The burial under garbage was unceremonial and unrecorded, I had to find meaning apart from cultural recognition, and instead find significance for what had naturally occured as a result of the burial. These men decomposed and became an inseparable part of the geography. At Ox-Bow Artist residency, I experimented with locally sourced clay and mixed it with the chemical compounds released by human bodies decaying in soil. These greenwares are designed to be placed back into nature. When exposed to the elements such as rain and wind, will naturally dissolve back into the soil, benefiting the flora and fauna. I also added bird seeds and suet to assist in the enhancement of the flora. By mixing clay with the chemical compounds from decay, I’m recreating what happened to those people buried without ceremony or respect. I’m filling in the void, and making part of their experience, sacred and finding spirituality in their return back into earth.
