Saturday, October 7, 6–8 pm
“When They Have Their Own Historians: Wearable Books I & II": Art, Poetry, and Culinary Traditions
Curator's Statement: Fei Li @Accented Projects
The event promises to be more than just a book launch; it will be a transcendental experience with readings from contributing writers and talks by visual artists to traverse emotional landscapes as vivid as they are complex.
"Wearable Stories, Artists' Books I & II" invite you to inhabit a world at the crossroads of multi-disciplinary art, poetic exploration, and socio-political narratives. It is an ode, a lament, and a celebratory anthem all at once, encapsulating the complexities of human existence. Join us at FiveMyles Gallery to witness the birth of this vanward initiative. We look forward to sharing this unforgettable evening with you.
Participating Artists and Readers include Annette Covrigaru, Gloria Lau 劉君蕙 & Louise Yeung 楊浩怡, Sidian Liu, Pacyinz Lyfoung, Peggy Robles-Alvarado, Victoria Romulo, Dr. Yamuna Sangarasivam, Sagirah Shahid, Aurvi Sharma, Peach Tao, Milagros “Mica” Verendia, and April Z.
About Wearable Book I: A Journey through the Avian Realm
The first book, featuring distinguished poets such as Annette Covrigaru, Peggy Robles-Alvarado, and Sagirah Shahid, is a lyrical exposition on avian species as allegorical representatives of resilience. It opens up an exploratory space that dissects the complex relationship between ecological desolation and social subjugation, inspired by the somber tale of the now-extinct Dodo bird.
It is not just a book but a poetic odyssey that flits through subjects as varied as ecological tragedies, ancestral connections, cultural dialogues, and resistance. Consider, for example, Annette Covrigaru's "Untitled Gaze"—a vibrant canvas painting of the hues of transient beauty and vitality in life. The writings are flanked by temporary tattoos that capture the essence of each poem—a silent yet indelible reminder of the complex relationship between humans and the avian world.
About Wearable Book II: Seeds, Food, and Tattooed Tales
The second volume in this series is a gastronomic journey rendered through stories, recipes, and artistic imagination. This book challenges the undervaluation of culinary traditions and posits food as a language for the Asian diaspora and community. The contributing writers and artists are united by a shared experience of Asianness and belong to BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds.
Seeds, integral to the narratives of family recipes contributed by women and non-binary individuals, become metaphorical vehicles for transformation. These seeds are interwoven with temporary tattoos that serve as a form of visual storytelling—a sort of codified language and a historical practice linked with the margins of society. The marriage of culinary traditions with tattoos thus acts as a counter-narrative, redefining the meaning of resistance and self-expression.
Curated by Fei Li @Accented Projects
www.whentheyhavetheirownhistorians.info
accentedprojects.com
This project is sponsored, in part, by the Greater New York Arts Development Fund of the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), administered by Brooklyn Arts Council, and is fiscally sponsored by the New York Foundation for the Arts.