In this series of still-life paintings titled, “苦的,” meaning “bitter,” I honor the modes of Chinese healing that Western culture fails to recognize and even dismisses. Growing up, food was used by my family to heal both physical and emotional ailments. Be it ill or thriving, I would consume or apply various concoctions made from all sorts of plants, from sweet Asian pear to the bitterest of herbs. Pain relieving oil derived from eucalyptus was used to treat headaches and sniffly noses. In the absence of an apology, affection was shown through cut fruit served on a plate. After moving out at the start of college, I found myself woefully separated from these past rituals which used to be so ingrained in my life. Through painting these objects, I aim to reconnect with the rituals of the country and culture which my parents left in pursuit of a “better” life.
苦的 n.5
WILL YOU PEEL THIS FOR ME?
My installation piece “Will you peel this for me?,” pays tribute to yet another common Chinese plant. Prized across cultures, oranges hold significance for many as a symbol of love, prosperity, and even loss. Oranges are placed at altars as an offering to ancestors and spiritual figures. Their peels may be dried and transformed into a sweet candy. They are found growing on trees which selflessly serve any of those who have the pleasure of walking past. As I craft this installation, I invite the viewer to think about the labor that went into its creation: from those who planted the orange tree’s seeds, to those who tended and cared for the crop, to those who picked the oranges, and finally those who transported them all the way to a dining hall in Northampton where they were peeled, eaten, and assembled back together. I’d like to thank all those who aided me in this peeling process.
WHO MAKES US
“Who Makes Us,” which can be found in the room adjacent to the main gallery space, is a 9-minute long video installation. In it, I explore themes of immigration, motherhood, invisible labor, and community through a conversation with my friend, Kiara. The intersectionality of environmental degradation with social justice is often hidden from everyday discourse. I create this piece in hopes to shed light on the invisible labors done by those who immigrate to the US for a brighter future for their family and by those who aid their community during and after climate disasters. By highlighting these stories, I hope to inspire a community that may envision a better society whose government supports and acknowledges those who do the labor we collectively depend on.
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About
"ELIXIR: (Re)creating Spaces and Modes of Healing Across Diasporas is an exhibition of new work by senior studio art majors Gabrielle Coello, Miranda Gibson, Victoria Partakki, Valerie Olivares, Taylor Wells, and Jade Wong.
We welcome you to our worlds of enchantment and healing. These are artworks that document our experiences grappling with race, religion, migration, and more, as we find art as the ultimate site of re-imagining."