.png)
A Collaboration of Asian American Artists
CELEBRATING LUNAR NEW YEAR TOGETHER
February 16, 2024 - March 16, 2024
about the exhibition
on view: feb 16 - mar 16
In this collaborative exhibition, 12 Asian American artists are sharing how they celebrate Lunar New Year with their families and ethnic communities. This exhibition recognizes and honors how each ethnicity celebrates Lunar New Year in their own unique way and how over time these celebrations may have evolved. One artist, Vivian Tran, highlights in her photos how lion dancing was traditionally a male activity, but now, women are challenging those gender norms. This increases representation but also "demonstrates that anyone, regardless of gender, can embrace cultural traditions."
One common celebration that ALL families and communities practice is gathering around symbolic dishes to enjoy eating together. "Growing up Buddhist, this meant that Lunar New Year’s Eve was spent eating auspicious food. . .Auspicious food often includes dishes that sound lucky. Our Lunar New Year’s Eve dinners were filled with whole fish (the word fish in Chinese sounds like 'surplus'), stir fried leeks (the word sounds like 'to calculate,' so parents hope their kids will be good at math), mouthwatering lobster, and a pomelo for luck" (Leyen Trang, Artist).
And most importantly, celebrating Lunar New Year is about being with your loved ones and family. When these artists reflect on their past Lunar New Year experiences, there is always someone special that makes Lunar New Year more memorable. "When my mom and I lived in separate states she would call me on the phone and ask me, “chi le ma? (have you eaten?)” On Lunar New Year's eve she would always tell me to eat a big meal, because you cannot enter the new year on an empty belly" (Annie Chen, Artist).
about
the exhibition
on view: feb 16 - mar 10
In this collaborative exhibition, 12 Asian American artists are sharing how they celebrate Lunar New Year with their families and ethnic communities. This exhibition recognizes and honors how each ethnicity celebrates Lunar New Year in their own unique way and how over time these celebrations may have evolved. One artist, Vivian Tran, highlights in her photos how lion dancing was traditionally a male activity, but now, women are challenging those gender norms. This increases representation but also "demonstrates that anyone, regardless of gender, can embrace cultural traditions."
One common celebration that ALL families and communities practice is gathering around symbolic dishes to enjoy eating together. "Growing up Buddhist, this meant that Lunar New Year’s Eve was spent eating auspicious food. . .Auspicious food often includes dishes that sound lucky. Our Lunar New Year’s Eve dinners were filled with whole fish (the word fish in Chinese sounds like 'surplus'), stir fried leeks (the word sounds like 'to calculate,' so parents hope their kids will be good at math), mouthwatering lobster, and a pomelo for luck" (Leyen Trang, Artist).
And most importantly, celebrating Lunar New Year is about being with your loved ones and family. When these artists reflect on their past Lunar New Year experiences, there is always someone special that makes Lunar New Year more memorable. "When my mom and I lived in separate states she would call me on the phone and ask me, “chi le ma? (have you eaten?)” On Lunar New Year's eve she would always tell me to eat a big meal, because you cannot enter the new year on an empty belly" (Annie Chen, Artist).
"Dduk Mandu Guk (떡만두국) means 'rice cake and dumpling soup.' It is a traditional Korean dish that is eaten on the Lunar New Year. This hearty soup contains many ingredients including dumplings, rice cakes, onions, garlic, beef, green onions, egg, and seaweed laver. Although I can make this dish anytime of year, I enjoy it the most when I share it with family on special days, such as the Lunar New Year."
Maria Park, Artist
past
events &
creative
workshops
Saturday, February 16th, 2024
@6PM - 9PM
Opening Reception of Exhibition
Located at XIA Gallery & Cafe
Come celebrate the exhibition and celebrate Lunar New Year with the 12 artists. Come meet and learn about their creative works.
There will be a live performance by Phoenix Chinese Dance Academy and light food will be served.
past events & creative workshops
Friday, February 16th, 2024
@6PM - 9PM
Opening Reception of Exhibition
Located at XIA Gallery & Cafe
Come celebrate the exhibition and celebrate Lunar New Year with the 12 artists. Come meet and learn about their creative works.
There will be a live performance by Phoenix Chinese Dance Academy and light food will be served.
Sunday, February 25th, 2024
@1PM - 3PM
Design a Lantern
Located at XIA Gallery & Cafe
A creative workshop where you will design a white paper lantern with acrylic and watercolor paint. Feel free to bring your own arts and crafts to design your lantern, such as glitter, sticker, and more! Bring your creativity to XIA with friends and family!
Friday, February 16th, 2024 @6PM - 9PM
Opening Reception of Exhibition
Located at XIA Gallery & Cafe
Come celebrate the exhibition and celebrate Lunar New Year with the 12 artists. Come meet and learn about their creative works.
There will be a live performance by Phoenix Chinese Dance Academy and light food will be served.
A creative workshop where you will design a white paper lantern with acrylic and watercolor paint. Feel free to bring your own arts and crafts to design your lantern, such as glitter, sticker, and more! Bring your creativity to XIA with friends and family!
Located at XIA Gallery & Cafe
Sunday, February 25th, 2024 @1PM - 3PM
Design a Lantern
Sunday, February 25th, 2024
@1PM - 3PM
Design a Lantern
Located at XIA Gallery & Cafe
A creative workshop where you will design a white paper lantern with acrylic and watercolor paint. Feel free to bring your own arts and crafts to design your lantern, such as glitter, sticker, and more! Bring your creativity to XIA with friends and family!
Friday, February 16th, 2024
@6PM - 9PM
Opening Reception of Exhibition
Located at XIA Gallery & Cafe
Come celebrate the exhibition and celebrate Lunar New Year with the 12 artists. Come meet and learn about their creative works.
There will be a live performance by Phoenix Chinese Dance Academy and light food will be served.
meet the artists
Annie Chen
handspun rainbows
Annie Chen (she/they) is a Queer, second generation Taiwanese/Chinese American based in the Homeland of the Dakota people, Minneapolis. A youth worker focused on disparities in race, gender and education, she is a multidisciplinary artist focused mainly on fiber arts. She enjoys exploring the intersections of art and identity through her craft as well as using it as a catalyst for change with other BIPOC artists. When not crafting, she can be found snuggling her dog, Ziggy Stardust, playing dungeons & dragons and taking naps.
Camelia Ly Ka So
poop&co
I am Hmong American and 12 years old. I have been drawing since I was 4 years old. I own Poop & Co where I illustrate, produce, and sell my own stickers, washi tapes, and keychains. Some fun facts about me is that I love video games, anime, making music, and jackfruit.
Cynthia Yuan Cheng
Artist
Cynthia Yuan Cheng is a Taiwanese American cartoonist and illustrator based in central New Jersey. They love to tell funny bittersweet stories about romance, masculinity, and everyday life (and sometimes, resistance!)
Emma Nguyen
Youth Artist
My name is Emma. I am nine years old and in 4th grade. My favorite hobby is gymnastics. My drawing is of some of my favorite Vietnamese foods.
Julian Nguyen
Youth Artist
My name is Julian. I am seven years old. I have brown eyes and like to build LEGOs! When i grow up, I want to be an engineer!
.jpeg)
Kim Nathe
smallkims art
Kim Nathe (she/her) is a 24 year old, queer, 2nd generation Vietnamese American. Her main inspirations for artwork are queer pride, feminism, and body positivity/Health At Every Size. She is a multidisciplinary artist and loves trying new mediums frequently, but focuses most of her energy on acrylic painting, ceramics, and linocut.
Leyen Trang
tranglyart
Leyen is a queer, 2nd generation Chinese Vietnamese Minnesotan native who enjoys telling stories through visual media. They enjoy exploring different ways of doing, from digital illustrations to carving lino.
Maria Park
Artist
I (Maria Park) am an artist and a PhD candidate in the Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior program at the University of Minnesota. I research how tree community composition influences the growth and stress of trees. I hope that this work will someday inform practices in ecological conservation and restoration.
I practice socially engaged art research to bring together community members and partners to co-create understanding of human interactions with local ecosystems. By exploring the possibilities of plant and mineral-based pigments, I strive to bring awareness to the natural world around us and inspire people to take care of the ecosystems they are part of.
Ryan Stopera
Artist
For me Lunar New Year has always been a time dedicated to spending time with family, eating good food, reflecting on the past and looking forward to the future. In the Chinese zodiac the dragon represents individuals with confidence and courage, and the year of the dragon will bring change, challenges and opportunities. I wanted to capture an image that represents power, celebration and stoicism in the face of changing times. The photo is also an homage to the film In The Mood For Love by legendary Hong Kong filmmaker Wong Kar Wai. In building the set for the photo, I combined a tribute to Maggie Cheung and Tony Leung, the colors and textures of the film, and symbolism of a new moon and the lunar new year. The photograph was shot on film in my studio with models Lily Kamrath and Sean Lim.
Sophie Wang
Artist
Sophie Wang is a researcher, educator, and artist based in Minneapolis. She makes zines, comics, and art that bring a critical power lens to science, technology, epistemology, and forms of knowledge-making, and an experiential lens to her second generation Chinese American experience and other parts of her life.
Vivian Tran
Viv the Creative
Vivian Tran, also known as 'VIV THE CREATIVE,' is a dedicated self-taught photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As a Vietnamese-American artist, her journey in photography since 2018 has been a dynamic exploration of creative styles and ideas, capturing the essence of people, fashion, and art.
Dedicated to going beyond the lens, she crafts visual art that showcases her fascination with people and unique perspective. Whether working with other artists, brands, or everyday people, she aims to produce high-quality, standout visual content.
Xiem Vuong
Artist
Xiem Vuong (any pronouns) is a multi-media artist. Trained in illustration and animation, she has expanded her practice to include florals and recycled materials. Her passions are naturalism and her Teochew-Vietnamese identity. She has been a part of the SEAD storytellers co-op, exhibited at Safeword, banana leaf collective, and at XIA gallery.