East of Sun, West of Moon exhibition by Oscar yi Hou

 The "East of Sun, West of Moon" exhibition by Oscar yi Hou at the Brooklyn Museum focuses on queer Asian American subjects through paintings inspired by reference images, including photographic artworks and Hollywood film stills. Yi Hou utilizes both "Oriental" and "Western" motifs, such as Chinese zodiac signs, Taoist symbols, cowboy hats, and American flags, to explore the concept of who is considered "American" in this political climate. The exhibition also highlights the limitations of the term "Asian American" and challenges the perception of East Asian individuals as interchangeable and the same.

Through contextualizing the history of the "coolie" slur and its connection to ongoing racially motivated violence against Asian American communities, the exhibition works to shed light on the belittling status assigned to East Asian immigrants in America. One particularly striking work, "Ends of Empire," features the American flag with a queer Filipino friend standing against it, who recently became an American citizen, and a weaved original poem that alludes to U.S. imperialism in trans-pacific regions. The painting powerfully critiques the struggle of embracing a new identity while acknowledging the values and practices forced upon other communities by the same place. The facial expression on the man's face showcases this internal conflict of embracing a new identity while not fully being accepted. Oscar yi Hou's "East of Sun, West of Moon" exhibition is a significant display of contemporary art and social justice, exploring intersectional identities, queerness, and Asian American history in a unique and relevant way.

-Andrea S