A Story That Lives Within US: Ada — Volume II
A Story That Lives Within US: Ada — Volume II is a historical and cultural preservation exhibition curated by Tzu-Ying (Naomi) Chan. By integrating contemporary art, written narratives, oral histories, and archival materials, the exhibition presents the diverse stories of Taiwanese immigrants in the United States while exploring intergenerational themes of identity, memory, kinship, cultural adaptation, and belonging.
At the center of the project is the symbolic fictional character Ada Lin, whose narrative is constructed through oral history interviews with multiple Taiwanese American immigrants. Ada’s migratory story is drawn from real-life events and reflects countless experiences of leaving Taiwan and beginning a new life abroad. Her journey echoes the paths of many, while also inviting audiences to recognize and understand the lived experiences and emotions that many immigrants have never spoken aloud, yet have long carried within themselves.
Volume II places particular focus on evolving life in New York during the 1980s and 1990s, a period marked by rapid urban transformation and social instability. During this time, many residents encountered challenges including economic hardship, public safety concerns, language differences, and cultural dislocation, while seeking stability and building new ways of life shaped by resilience, adaptation, and hope. Ada’s journey unfolds in parallel with the transformation of New York City itself, reflecting the intertwined relationship between personal migration narratives and the changing social landscape of the city.
The exhibition features 17 artists from diverse cultural backgrounds and countries: Bryan Cordova, Pedro Cuni, Peggy Cheng, Rebecca Hon, Ronald Huang, James Hsieh, Chiya Huang, John Chia Hsuan Kuo, Kiu, Tse-Hsing Liu, Gabrielle Mar, Munus Shih, I Chin Sung, Moyuru Shiroma, Yalan Wen, Sherry Yang, and Ashton Yeh. The participating artists present works across painting, ceramics, fiber art, interactive sound installations, and mixed-media practices. Drawing from their personal insights and lived experiences, the artists reflect on stages of life that symbolize Ada’s own journey, approaching migration from different angles and moments in time. Alongside oral histories and archival materials, these works construct a space in which personal memories and shared migratory histories can be revisited, preserved, and transmitted across communities and generations.
Through the intersection of oral history and contemporary artistic practices, A Story That Lives Within US: Ada — Volume II unfolds as an ongoing journey of cultural preservation, one that seeks to preserve immigrant memory, encourage collective reflection and intergenerational dialogue, and reconsider how immigrant experiences continue to accumulate and transform across time and urban space.
Opening Reception: Thursday, August 13, 6–8pm
August 13, 2026–August 26, 2026
Crossing Art, 559 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
Tuesday–Sunday, 12–6pm
Contact: tzuyingc1112@gmail.com