Chinese American

This series of work, categorized in 4 segments, digs into my immigrant experience and journey to success in America, interwoven with the rich and unique history of Chicago’s Chinatown.

Segment 1: Exclusion

This segment explores the deep roots of Asian hate in America, a legacy of racism that continues to affect my life on a daily basis.

In the spring of 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, signed into law by President Chester A. Arthur. This landmark legislation was the first of its kind in U.S. history, imposing a ten-year ban on Chinese laborers seeking to immigrate to the United States. For the first time, federal law explicitly targeted an entire ethnic group, driven by the belief that Chinese immigrants posed a threat to the economic and social fabric of certain communities. It was a legal declaration that Chinese people were not welcome, seen as undesirable outsiders—an impression that would persist for generations.

The act’s reach deepened in 1902 when it was made permanent, with even harsher restrictions. Chinese residents were forced to register with the government and carry certificates of residence, facing the constant threat of deportation if they could not produce proper documentation. These measures weren’t just laws; they were tools of exclusion, institutionalizing racism and fostering resentment. For decades, they created a climate of hostility and isolation for Chinese Americans, leaving scars that would stretch far beyond the laws themselves.

It wasn’t until 1943, with the passage of the Magnuson Act, that the Chinese Exclusion Act was finally repealed. The law allowed a small number of Chinese immigrants to enter the U.S. each year, but the damage had already been done. The racial prejudice embedded by the Exclusion Act, and its long history of legal discrimination, continued to reverberate across generations. The echoes of that hatred still resonate today, shaping the experiences of Asian Americans and perpetuating the biases that many of us face daily.

This history isn’t just in the past—it’s part of the present, woven into the fabric of American society, and its impact on the lives of Asian Americans, myself included, is undeniable.

Pigtail Series 1

Medium: Charcoal on kraft paper. Dimensions: 24” X 36”

San Francisco officials thought that enforcing the Pigtail Ordinance, which threatened to cut off the long, braided ponytails of Chinese immigrants, would deter overcrowding in jails and discourage further Chinese immigration to the United States, driven by anti-Chinese sentiments.

Further more, this would have significantly affected Chinese immigrants, as keeping their queue was the only way to secure their chance of returning to China.

Pigtail Series 2

Medium: Charcoal on kraft paper. Dimensions: 24” X 36”

The Chinese Exclusion Act, enacted on May 6, 1882, stands as a landmark in U.S. immigration history as the initial significant measure to restrict immigration. Primarily targeting Chinese immigrants, especially in California, it also rendered them ineligible for naturalization. Chinese immigrants faced harsher treatment compared to any other voluntarily arriving group in the United States.

Pigtail Series 3

Medium: Charcoal on kraft paper. Dimensions: 24” X 36”

One of the deadliest instances of mass lynching in U.S. history took place in the original Chinese Quarter of Los Angeles on October 24, 1871. Known as the Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre, it stands as one of the most violent attacks against Asians recorded in American history. At least 17 Chinese immigrants were lynched by a predominantly white and Latino mob.

Pigtail Series 4

Medium: Charcoal on kraft paper. Dimensions: 24” X 36”

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a federal law that barred Chinese laborers from immigrating to the United States for a decade. This was the first federal legislation to specifically restrict entry based on ethnicity, under the premise that Chinese laborers posed a threat to the social order in certain areas. Additionally, the Act rendered Chinese immigrants permanent aliens by denying them the possibility of U.S. citizenship and imposed severe penalties, including deportation and imprisonment, on those who violated its terms.

Pigtail Series 5

Medium: Charcoal on kraft paper. Dimensions: 24” X 36”

In the 1870s and early 1880s, many in the American medical community advocated for excluding Chinese immigrants from entering the United States. They argued that the prevalent practice of opium smoking among Chinese immigrants posed a threat to the nation’s moral and social fabric.

Pigtail Series 6

Medium: Charcoal on kraft paper. Dimensions: 24” X 36”

Chinese immigrants were prohibited from obtaining U.S. citizenship under the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which also barred further immigration. As a result, many railroad workers were unable to reunite with their families.

Flag Series: The Act

Medium: Glued paper, oil on wood. Dimensions: 24” X 24”

The Chinese Exclusion Act is not only a Chinese story but an American story.

Segment 2: Chinatown

Despite facing significant hardships, Chinese Americans gradually became more self-sufficient and began to establish themselves in urban areas. They sought employment in a range of service industries and started to form their own communities, which eventually led to the creation of vibrant “Chinatowns” across the country.

Chicago’s Chinatown was a vibrant place for me in the 1960’s and 1970’s. There are also some memorable times that made growing up so special. We knew everybody. Chinatown’s boundaries were from Cermak to 24th street and from Wentworth to Canal Street. We played sports on concrete and it seemed everybody went to St Therese grammar school. I still have friends in Chinatown from that era. It was also a period where I came of age with real struggles.

Today, I still call Chinatown home even though I have not lived here full time for 40 years. I love it here, the smell of stirfries, the sight of people conversing in person instead of on their phones and especially running into old friends on the streets.. Go to the bakery and get a char sui bao is a ritual I still keep every time I visit Chinatown.

Lion Dance

Medium: Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 40” X 30”

Chinese New Year along with other celebrations, which have grown to become major cultural events embraced by Americans of all backgrounds, highlight the rich blending of cultures and the shared joy of diverse traditions. Through these festivities, Chinese Americans celebrate their heritage while also fostering a broader cultural exchange that enriches the American way of life. The Lion Dance not only honors cultural heritage but also reinforces the values of resilience and community spirit.

Wok Hay

Medium: Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 40” X 50”

Wok Hay is a term that captures the distinctive aroma and essence imparted by authentic stir-frying. Translating literally to “breath of the wok” or “wok’s thermal radiation,” it is a hallmark of Cantonese cuisine and a critical criterion for evaluating stir-fried dishes in the Canton region of China. In Chinatown if you have kitchen skills, you can find work.

Soup Man

Medium: Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 24” X 30”

Immigrants working in Chinatown often faced bullying from insensitive restaurant owners. The labor was both physically demanding and mentally exhausting.

Dim Sum

Medium: Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 40” X 28”

Chinese cuisine has woven itself into the fabric of American life, with Chinese restaurants flourishing in both small towns and large cities nationwide. These establishments not only offer delicious and diverse meals but also serve as crucial support centers for working Chinese immigrants. Dim sum traces its origins to Cantonese cuisine from Southern China, with a rich history spanning over a thousand years. Originally served as a simple snack or light meal for travelers along the Silk Road, it gradually evolved into a beloved centerpiece of Cantonese dining culture.

Segment 3: Life I Know

Growing up in Chicago’s Chinatown during the 1960s and 70s was challenging. With our parents busy trying to survive, my siblings and I often had to fend for ourselves. Racism was a harsh reality, and I faced violence from various groups; Italians, Blacks, Latinos, and even other Chinese. During those turbulent years, I fell in with negative influences from men from New York City’s Chinese community and found myself drifting aimlessly. A turning point came after I was indirectly involved in a shooting in Chinatown. This incident served as a wake-up call, leading me to pursue a college education at Eastern University, a decision that ultimately saved my life.

Slanty

Medium: Collage, photo, cardboard, charcoal and ink. Dimensions: 28” X 34”

I was in 3rd grade when I first heard it. I was with my father walking in downtown Chicago. He said ingore him and just keep walking. First experience of keep our heads down.

Injustice

Medium: Collage, photo, newspaper, ink, watercolor. Dimensions: 28” X 34”

June 23, 1982 I was living in Chicago when I heard Vincent Chin was killed in a racially motivated assault by two white men, Chrysler plant supervisor Ronald Ebens and his stepson, laid-off autoworker. Wayne County Circuit Court Judge Charles Kaufman sentenced Ebens and Nitz to three years’ probation and a $3,000 fine, but no jail time.

Jongzi

Medium: Pastel on paper. Dimensions: 18” X 24”

Joong is a traditional Chinese food. It consists of sticky or glutinous rice which is wrapped in bamboo leaves, then steamed or boiled. Recipes are passed down through generations, as is the skill of neatly wrapping the rice with bamboo, and families will often all help out with the preparation of this food.

Guan Gong

Medium: Oil on canvas. Dimensions: 40” X 50”

My parents, whose story is common among immigrants to America, came here for a better life, not necessarily for them, but for their children. Like many immigrants, they received little or no guidance in how to take advantage of the opportunities and freedom in this country. Father was a famous Chinese Opera composer and band leader, but lost it all when he step foot in America.

The Chinese Opera is an artform recognized by Chinese young and old. Guan Gong, a legendary warrior of the Chinese Opera. served under the warlord Liu Bei during the late Eastern Han dynasty of China.

Segment 4: The Artist I’ve Become

In 1980, Carl Shull and the Eastern Illinois Art Department offered me a graduate assistantship that changed my life forever. The program gave me the time and space to be a student and discover my love for the arts, a crucial part of my development. As an independent artist, I gain the freedom neccessary to create a body of work that is rich in both technique and imagination.

Self Expression

Medium: Left, pencil on paper. Right, pencil and watercolor on paper. Dimensions: 8”X10:”

A shift from conformity to defiance