Creator and independent curator of SLAYSIAN, 2020
A celebration of Chicago's and the greater Midwest area's Asian American artists originally slated to open on March 20, 2020, until the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Adapting quickly, Jenny Lam moved the entire exhibition of 39 artists online.
View it here & here.
From one of many reviews: “Spanning neighborhoods, ethnicities, and mediums, SLAYSIAN showcases a subset of artists that have always been part of the city’s art scene, but rarely acknowledged as a collective. […] SLAYSIAN also examines how artists can value their identity while refusing to be pigeonholed by it. […] Their work raises questions of what it means to inhabit spaces designed specifically for artists to grow, but where the Asian American experience may still be sidelined. […] In addition to its role in educating and engaging with the broader Chicago community, much of SLAYSIAN reflects an inward-looking conversation among Asian Americans. […] SLAYSIAN embodies the aspiration that those at the outskirts of a society can redefine what success means for ourselves. […] Narrative plentitude also includes the capacity for change. By allowing for a multitude of stories, Asian American artists can now practice a freedom long enjoyed by their white peers. Instead of being locked into one narrative as victim or immigrant, their art is allowed to grow with the times. […] The exhibition showcases the determination of individuals to find their own answers to what the role of an Asian American artist is. […] The digital forum offers the opportunity for at-home viewers to take part in this important work—to help these stories grow, evolve, and be seen.” -Eileen Li, South Side Weekly
From one of many reviews: “Spanning neighborhoods, ethnicities, and mediums, SLAYSIAN showcases a subset of artists that have always been part of the city’s art scene, but rarely acknowledged as a collective. […] SLAYSIAN also examines how artists can value their identity while refusing to be pigeonholed by it. […] Their work raises questions of what it means to inhabit spaces designed specifically for artists to grow, but where the Asian American experience may still be sidelined. […] In addition to its role in educating and engaging with the broader Chicago community, much of SLAYSIAN reflects an inward-looking conversation among Asian Americans. […] SLAYSIAN embodies the aspiration that those at the outskirts of a society can redefine what success means for ourselves. […] Narrative plentitude also includes the capacity for change. By allowing for a multitude of stories, Asian American artists can now practice a freedom long enjoyed by their white peers. Instead of being locked into one narrative as victim or immigrant, their art is allowed to grow with the times. […] The exhibition showcases the determination of individuals to find their own answers to what the role of an Asian American artist is. […] The digital forum offers the opportunity for at-home viewers to take part in this important work—to help these stories grow, evolve, and be seen.” -Eileen Li, South Side Weekly
