Catching up with the inaugural grantees of The Very Asian Foundation’s Creators Grant
How much can a person accomplish in a year?
When catching up with three of the inaugural recipients of The Very Asian Foundation’s Creators Grant, we learned that the answer is a lot. Driven by their passion for art, 2023’s grantees have exceeded our expectations in the work they have done throughout the past year to reflect on their AAPI experience, advocate for important causes, and build community.
We have consolidated below the updates from our grantees, so you can keep up with their journey and cheer them on.
Isabel Lu, painter & communications specialist
VAF: Give us an update on your life as a creator since winning the grant. What new projects have you been working on?
IL: Life has definitely picked up since winning the VAF grant last year! It's all a little overwhelming, but I'm super excited about my upcoming projects and collaborations. I currently have a solo exhibition up at Artspace in Raleigh, NC, through May and June. The show is titled "Your Ocean is on Fire", and is a collection of portraits, letters, and herbs that reflect on objectification, identity, and internal turmoil through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Additionally, Ina Liu, Sophie To, and I are collaborating on an oral history and community-driven mural project, called "Asian Joy". We use different forms of storytelling and engagement to explore the convergence of Asianness, Southernness, and our relationships to joy, community, wellness, and belonging. We are currently in the process of installing that mural in Downtown Raleigh.
VAF: What are some themes associated with the AAPI experience that you have been exploring with your work in the past year? Why have they interested you?
IL: In the past year, I've delved deeper into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its applications in my life. In addition to doing my own research, I've interviewed an herbalist and an acupuncturist who have similar and different perspectives and practices on Chinese Medicine. TCM draws parallels between our organ systems, our emotions, the changing seasons, and the foods we eat.
In my work, I adapt and redefine TCM knowledge to look at my relationship to my body, queerness, and those around me. TCM has offered me guidance to find recognition and relief while things around me remain unresolved.
VAF: How can we as a society better support AAPI creators?
IL: Society as a whole needs to recognize and provide enough space for the breadth of AAPI identities and experiences. I think a lot of attention is now being shed on specific types of Asian and Asian American personas, but there are AAPI artists whose identities (queer, multi-racial, Southern, transgender, disabled, etc.) may not fit the stereotypical Asian archetype that people are comfortable with. We need to listen to and amplify the voices of creators who expand our understanding of the AAPI experience, while also holding solidarity for each other.
Casey Seo, furniture restorer & maker
VAF: Give us an update on your life as a creator since winning the grant. What new projects have you been working on?
CS: Furniture refinishing and building are going great! I just signed my first custom table order a few weeks ago and have really deepened my refinishing skills.
VAF: What are some themes associated with the AAPI experience that you have been exploring with your work in the past year? Why have they interested you?
CS: This past year, I have done a lot of work surrounding the idea of our inner voice. Coming from a conservative protestant Asian American family, shame and self-doubt have been prevalent in my self narrative. In the past, when I made a mistake, my immediate response was to shut down and condemn myself.
With work and learning lots of new skills, I have often made mistakes. This past year has been a lot of learning to be ok with, and even welcome, those mistakes. Learning to acknowledge failure without it being crippling and allowing it to be a growing experience has been a journey! Shifting my self narrative from unworthiness to “I am loved” has not only had a great positive effect on the pieces I’ve worked on, but also in my personal life as a partner and a father.
VAF: what do you think about when you are building or refinishing furniture? Is it a therapeutic process for you?
CS: I’m usually reflecting on my upbringing and how it coincides with the way I’m raising my son. He’s 8 now, and he’s beginning to individuate. I really didn’t start doing that until I was about 30 when I left the church. It can be difficult to give my son what wasn’t given to me, learning to grieve my pain and take joy in the emotional care I can give to him has been huge.
Having to leave and rebuild community later in life is also something I’ve been working through. It’s been so life-giving to be connected with new communities like The Very Asian Foundation. It’s also a bit sad to think about the relationships that have been strained or lost because of my choice to put myself first. I’m the oldest of 8 boys, and there has been lots of tension in my relationship
with my primarily evangelical family. But I’ve been slowing learning about chosen family and building a new community. It hasn’t been the easiest, but overall, I’m grateful to be in community with those who balance their consideration of feelings and reason.
Super Smack, pop music artist
VAF: Give us an update on your life as a creator since winning the grant. What new projects have you been working on?
SS: So many good things have happened since winning the grant! First, I released my debut pop music album, BOOTY & THE BRAIN. It reached over 250,000 streams, had features from major artists AJ Rafael and Hollis, and was selected for Spotify's official playlist for rising AAPI artists: Jasmine—making it my most successful project yet.
I've also begun performing the album live in concert. Most recently, I got to headline the Asian Chamber Night Market, which brought together artists, small businesses, and community members all across Arizona. With the success of BOOTY & THE BRAIN, I'm now in talks to perform in multiple states/regions across the country which I'm currently exploring and absolutely thrilled about!
VAF: What are some themes associated with the AAPI experience that you have been exploring with your work in the past year? Why have they interested you?
SS: My songwriting and music production this past year has focused on three themes: 1) embracing love, 2) finding body confidence, and 3) following your dreams. These three themes are so central to my experience as an Asian American/Filipino American, and I've been thrilled to see how much folks from all backgrounds (AAPI and beyond!) vibe and resonate with them well.
Since I released BOOTY & THE BRAIN, I've gotten DMs from fans of all backgrounds, where they tell me how much of a positive impact the album has brought to their lives—being the soundtrack for their fitness journeys, romantic relationships, personal manifests. It's been an absolute dream come true for me as an artist and a creator to get to share that joy and that feeling with people :)
VAF: How can we as a society better support AAPI creators?
SS: Give us center stage. More often. We'll give you a heck of a show, I promise you that!
