My Cup Is Not Half Full

This piece is from a body of work reimagining sculptures of old with ideas of new. Existing statues are primed and painted in a way that is jarring to the viewer, and aims to provide pause, and maybe (and hopefully) introspection. This piece is ultimately inspired by the courageously shared experiences of many friends, and integral work awhile back by activism Artist, Gabby Malpas. In particular her pieces ‘Stop Asian Hate.’ ’I will not love you long time.’ and ‘My Pussy Is Not Slanted.’ The power and necessity in Gabby’s work is indisputable. This idea then came together having read the following piece, and I implore you to read it. www.critic.co.nz/culture/article/8604/your-asian-fetish-is-gross

‘My cup is not half full’ features a solitary Japanese woman, her dress reworked in shadowy abstract monochrome layering. The black and white speaks to the fact that this is not ever truly black and white. There are many shades of grey if you care to shut up and listen. Her bowl appears as an offering, however I now see this ancient gesture as her being forced to give, having something being taken by a society with no right to impose on either her race, or her gender. 

In her bowl, there are tiny scrolls featuring words or phrases that speak to the topic, wrapped in string (including the above credited words by Gabby). The tiny scrolls are overflowing. Despite the name of this piece – the opposite narrative on this topic is true. This is not exotic, sexy, lucky or acceptable. This is a fucking disgusting narrative, and it needs to end. 

From the article: “At its best, Asian fetish is reductive and offensive. At its worse, it makes Asian women a target, and a whole community unsafe.”

I also don’t care what you say to justify it. If you are exclusively attracted to Asian people, you need to take a deep, hard look at why. It’s never “just a preference”, or a “respect for the culture”. Nine times out of ten it’s rooted in the way Asian women are presented in the Western World. It’s reductive, insulting, debasing, dehumanising and dangerous. Asian women are more than sex toys. We are not objects to hold power over. We are beautiful for more than our features and valid for more than your sexual exploration, or exploitation. We are people with personalities.

"Our sexuality is ours to define, and it’s time to decolonise our fucking love lives already.”

*While I am not of Asian background and don’t presume to understand the myriad of implications, racism, biases, bigotry and othering that is the lived reality of many, I won’t pretend they’re not there. I won’t pretend I understand the lived reality of being an Asian woman, but I will not ignore it. I won’t pretend that Asian fetish is irrelevant. It’s gross. Of further note, this article is blocked due to porn references, so I have been unable to contact or credit the author. 

MEDIUM                
Reworked ceramic statue with acrylic, posca, enamel with paper & string

DIMENSIONS        
Approx. 10 x 32cm