THE GATHERING

Deeply affected by the surge in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans during the pandemic, I found myself reassessing my identity, my roots, and what it meant to be an Asian-Panamanian woman in the United States. I began to ponder deeply on what constituted my Chinese heritage. Was it simply my physical appearance? Was it the values instilled in me? Or perhaps the timeless traditions handed down through generations?

To help me navigate these reflections I posed a fundamental question: "What did my household have that others did not?" What I miss the most was the profound sense of belonging and unity that filled our daily family dinners. From my earliest memories, our shared meals were infused with the enticing aromas and diverse textures of both Chinese and Panamanian cuisines, served and enjoyed with the distinctive "tong gang 湯羹 soup spoon".

Shared meals hold a profound power to foster connections and cultivate relationships. The timeless practice of sharing food taps into a primal instinct that hearkens back to our ancestral roots, where communal meals were vital for survival and community cohesion. In today's bustling world, amidst our hectic schedules, sharing a meal offers a precious moment to pause, engage in meaningful conversation, and authentically connect with one another. It transcends mere sustenance; it is a ritual that nourishes both body and soul, enriching our bonds and deepening and transforming our sense of belonging. 

This installation is dedicated with heartfelt gratitude to my mother, whose cooking was a true expression of pure love.

"The Gathering" installation consists of 520 white porcelain spoons adorned with Chinese motifs and words representing the myriad emotions that can arise while cooking, sharing, and receiving food. The words are in three languages—Spanish, English, and Chinese—reflecting my multicultural background. The choice of 520 spoons is intentional, as the number 520 is an abbreviation for May 20, an unofficial Valentine's Day in China, and phonetically resembles "Wo Ai Ni" or "I Love You" in Chinese. 

The Gathering Installation

520 hand-painted porcelain spoons, 72" round table, 2 table cloths and red ribbon

72" round x  33"