MAM Collection 020: The World Lies in Our Narratives - Shitamichi Motoyuki, Vandy Rattana, Zhang O and Cao Fei

MAM Collection 020 presents the work of four artists with roots in Asia under the title The World Lies in Our Narratives.

Shitamichi Motoyuki (born 1978 in Japan), Vandy Rattana (born 1980 in Cambodia), Zhang O (born 1976 in China), and Cao Fei (born 1978 in China) turn their gaze to the anonymous people and scenes of life in the liminal spaces between nations, races, and histories, incisively probing the structures of the world as revealed through these “little narratives” from their unique perspectives. Their works include depictions of landscapes that stand as remnants of the Pacific War and Vietnam War, families formed across racial lines through international adoption policies, and ordinary people who embrace hip-hop culture with ease. Each work brings to light the complex histories and relationships of influence between Asian countries and the United States from the early twentieth century to the present, allowing us to recognize the traces of the past that persist in the narratives of our everyday lives today.

In the works of the four artists presented in this exhibition, we can uncover hints that point toward the approaching future.