Christina Yuna Lee Killing: Christina Yuna Le, an Asian American poet, recently published her first book “Songs and Stories of the Asian American Experience.” She is an educator and a member of AAPI Artist Collective. She is also active member of University of California Los Angeles.
Her poem, “Assamad Nash,” was inspired by the artist’s experiences living in a Japanese American community in New York City. This piece has been featured on her blog, “Yuna’s Corner.”
Assamad Nah
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Christina Yuna Lee wasn’t the only victim of a man with a criminal past. She was also shot to death in New York City. Her family is calling for more action from the city.
Nash was a serial offender with multiple arrests. These included robberies as well as a series of attacks on Asians. He has been arrested seven more times in the past five years.
He was reportedly last living at a men’s homeless shelter on The Bowery.
According to police, Nash attacked Lee 40 times. He tried to run on the fire escape and was stopped by police. He was eventually returned inside after an exchange with police.
Authorities said that Lee was on the sixth floor of a walk-up apartment when she was attacked. A neighbor heard screams and screaming and called 911. A voice sounded similar to a woman asking for assistance.
When police got to the apartment, they heard a female voice saying that someone needed to leave. The police eventually gained access to the apartment.
The found Nash hidden under a mattress. They found him bleeding from his hands, and there were cuts all over his body.
The attacker was identified by investigators. He was eventually arrested.
Memorial Exhibition
Eli Klein Gallery hosts a group show in memory of Christina Yuna Lee. She died tragically in February. Stephanie Ming Huang curated this exhibition. It is a tribute to Lee’s life and her art.
Lee has included an original painting and a gold embossed joss-paper huang. An altar is also featured. It’s all in memory of the 35-year-old artist.
This exhibition was developed in partnership with the Lee Family. Angela Lee is the gallery’s director. Her goal is to present Lee’s works.
Huang, who was the curator of the exhibition, chose carefully the pieces. Her goal was to create the illusion of an exhibition to honour Lee’s achievements in the arts world.
It is this large-scale sculpture that most people remember, which makes the exhibition one of its most memorable. Titled “August 4-6,” the piece is an intricately crafted sculpture that appears to be a hollow, partly-burnt candle.
Haena Yoo, a South Korean artist who creates gun-shaped sculptures is another great item. These paper guns are made using newspapers that cover anti-Asian violence. They’re a play on the Chinese tradition of gifting cigarettes to others as a gesture of goodwill.
Representation for AAPI
There has been much progress in the Pacific Islander and Asian American communities over the past few years. They have been severely affected by the coronavirus.
Mass incarceration is the main focus, but xenophobia still poses a threat.
The rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans during the first half this decade was significant. Stop AAPI Hate reported more than 5,700 cases.
This figure is far higher than those of other ethnicities who are subject to racism.
Nevertheless, anti-Asian violent acts have taken a toll upon the mental health and well-being of AAPI people. A survey found that two-thirds (33%) of these attacks target women.
A group of New Jersey residents have come together to address the safety concerns of their neighborhood and raise awareness of these facts.
Another group of New Yorkers is using the medium of art to shine a light on the subject of diversity. A group exhibition is displaying artwork by Asian-American women.
They are made of newspaper articles and then folded into guns-shaped sculptures. Each artist is an Asian-Pacific Islander woman.
Christina Yuna Lee is also honored in the group exhibit. Her life was dedicated to inclusive art and she was a Korean-American producer.
