Signs of the Times
Chloe Kono
My work usually centers around happy subject matter— colorful carousel horses, clowns with the biggest smile, yummy ice-cream and fun juggling balls etc. Not because I’m ecstatic 24-7 (cos’ that’d be psychotic), but because I believe that the world is such an overwhelming place, it is incredibly easy to get swallowed by dark thoughts. Therefore, every ounce of cheer would come in handy. I love that my jewelry could bring joy to people and remind them how simple it should be.
However, once in a while, digging into what truly bothers us is also needed, no matter how confusing or hurtful that might be.
I was born and raised in Hong Kong and I moved to Los Angeles when I was eighteen, meaning that I had no idea what it was like to be a minority growing up. The concept of having extra obstacles in life because of my ethnicity was not something I would even think of. My experience of interaction with non Chinese people were pleasant. They were my aunt’s dear friends from London, friendly English teachers or speakers at school, and happy tourists who asked for direction. They were different from me, yes, but they never made me feel inferior because of it.
After moving to LA, I was still clueless and extremely slow to pick up on the existence of racism. If someone repeated something to me dramatically slow because I didn’t catch it the first time, they were just being nice, weren’t they? If someone assumed that the car that was parked in between two spots must be mine, they were just being funny, weren’t they? If someone who always showed up late and took long breaks and was just generally lousy got promoted even though they were less experienced or efficient than I was, they must be better in other areas, weren’t they? If someone thought I was beautiful only because I got dark hair, almond eyes and tiny breasts, I must be just coincidently their type, wasn’t I?
Because if I thought the answers were NO, HONEY to any of the above, then I must be just too sensitive.
It’s mind-blowing how racism is such a rooted problem that even the victims are somehow brainwashed to think that all the wrongful little things are just something to shrug off. But I was lucky to have the choice, though not the best one, to shrug it off because what I have experienced or observed was comparatively insignificant.
Never have I ever imagined that I would live in a time that an elderly would get attacked in broad daylight just because he was Asian. Oh, and what comes after throwing rocks? Burning us on wooden stakes?
It is time to wake up and address the severeness of it before all the things that I thought I could shrug off become something irreversible like a buried coffin, and this might as well be the darkest pun of all.
To process all the anger, fear, sadness and frustration I’ve generated reading all the recent hate crimes news, including additional murders of black people and transgender people. I’ve created the following two pieces.
No matter how distorted the concept of right and wrong has become
Participating in this year’s metals challenge hosted by @metalartssociety MASSC, I've used 7 out of 8 given materials to create this piece as instructed and I'm pleased with the result. If I do win any of the four prizes, 50% of it will be donated to National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
@naapimha , supporting the ongoing battle against anti AAPI hate crimes.
Not a style preference but an eternal fact
Ignorance isn't a license for violence
Exclusion doesn't make one elite
In times of chaos, please look for huggers
At moments of despair, please be reminded that love is still in the air
This piece is created for the upcoming group show Signs of the Times hosted by Cactus Gallery
Opens online this Saturday at 3pm PST via this 🔗link 🔗
Check out what everybody else has to say → So many wonderful pieces!!
50% of the proceeds from a sale will go to Stop AAPI Hate
So dear racists, love us, don’t love us, I honestly don’t give a shit. We are not looking for your approval to exist. We are reminding you that this isn’t The Stone Age, and you can’t go around bashing people’s heads because you are convinced that we stole your stupid dinosaurs. Please kindly pull your heads outta your buttocks. Thank you very much.
