ST. LOUIS — It's been said that painting is just another way of keeping a diary.
For Ria Unson, it's so much more; she uses art to make others think about identity in America.
"My grandfather was brought here to be part of the Philippine exhibit in 1904," Unson said.
The Philippine Village was part of a "living exhibit" at the 1904 World's Fair in St. Louis, a 47-acre site that housed more than 1,000 Filipinos from at least 10 different ethnic groups. It drew crowds for seven months in Clayton as so-called primitive tribes, such as the Igorot people, were put on a display as a human zoo.
Unson's grandfather was part of the 1903 Pensionado program, which was established by William Taft. Taft was the governor-general of the Philippines. When Congress passed The Pensionado Act, it established a scholarship program for Filipinos to attend school in the United States. Unson's teenage grandfather's first assignment was to serve as a guide in the Philippine exhibit at the World's Fair.
"So they really provided this kind of optical contrast between the indigenous people that were being displayed, and these boys who were well educated, who spoke English, who were dressed in Western suits," said Unson. "To kind of show the American public what was possible in the colony. So it's just reinforcing kind of the racial narrative of the World's Fair."
The spectacle 120 years ago still has a deep impact on Unson's identity and art today.
"I think it's important because these are American stories," said Unson. "We're part of the fabric of this country."
Unson is just one artist being showcased for a first-of-its-kind Lunar New Year art show in the Central West End at the Duane Reed Gallery. It's curated by St. Louis-based artist Michelle Lee Rigell, who simply wanted to see more Asian American representation where she actually lives.
"Ultimately, I'd like to do an annual art show that featured Asian American artists--from the greater Saint Louis area and Kansas City and even Chicago, just like a Midwest art show," said Rigell.
Rigell is also showcasing her own art in the exhibition. In 2016 she started a personal project called "The 1000 Crane Project" -- which supported the idea that a thousand cranes can bring eternal happiness. The project gave her a way to find strength during a challenging time struggling with infertility.
"Origami cranes are what kept me going," said Rigell. Her love for origami and American candy inspired her to create delicate origami cranes made with wrapped from Reese's butternut cups or painted gummy bears. It also serves as a dichotomy of her childhood growing up in a Korean immigrant household.
Rigell is also displaying her first mural at the art show.
She created an acrylic painting of Bruce Lee with cranes flying in the background. It is an homage to her dad and their love of martial arts.
Rigell says her dad grew up outside of Chicago and was inspired by Bruce Lee to fend off bullies. He later opened a taekwondo studio in Columbia, Missouri, to pay for graduate school. Her dad once even choreographed a fight scene for a Burt Reynolds film and had a small role wearing a face mask to hide his identity since he couldn’t afford his Screen Actors Guild union dues. Rigell says she remembers going to the video store to rent all kinds of VHS tapes starring the likes of Bruce Lee, Michelle Yeoh, Jackie Chan, and Jet Li. Her dad still has those VHS tapes stashed away in their home.
Unson is submitting several pieces, many of which flip the script on history. She often finds used books and then paints a story over the words, using them in a contrasting way.
One of her paintings is titled “The New Generation of Natives Will Know Better” and it’s a different take on the original text of a book page.
“The original text said, ‘The new generation of natives will know better than to get in the way of the bandwagon of Anglo-Saxon progress and decency.’,” said Unson holding up her artwork of a Filipino family painted atop the book’s pages. “I kind of rewrite the story that’s being told.”
Ultimately, it’s a chance to tell how our stories intersect and overlap as Americans. But for people like Unson and Rigell, it’s also about just having the chance to tell their stories at all.
“For me, the significance of it is a space to tell our story,” said Unson.
And for Rigell, who now has a bouncy and train-loving toddler, it’s about opening opportunities.
“I think it’s important, especially for the younger generation to know that this is an avenue,” said Rigell. “This is a possibility for them.”
The Year of the Dragon Art Show will benefit the Very Asian Foundation’s nonprofit fund to support creatives. The show at the Duane Reed Art Gallery opens February 9 and will close in mid-March.
Reporter’s note: Michelle Li from 5 On Your Side’s Today in St. Louis launched the Very Asian Foundation, a nonprofit that shines a light on Asian experiences through advocacy and celebration, with a journalistic lens.
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