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Miya Hannan 

Regents' Creative Activities Award

Work Samples
 

1. Crossing the Ocean project
 

This project seeks to recover and preserve the lesser-known history of Japanese railroad workers who came to the Intermountain West of the United States around 1900. It is research-based and incorporates documentation of my research process, research-based historical articles I authored, and original artwork.

Deep Echo (installation)
Soot on paper, tree branches, bone ash

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Research Panel (research in Montana)

Map, photos, found spikes, soil from historical sites, words from a diary.

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Research Panel (research in Japan)

Notes, soil from historical sites, ink on wood

Hannan, Miya. “Nihoshima Issue 37: Chasing Forgotten History: Japanese Workers on America's Railroads”, Hawaii Emigration Museum Nihojimamura, Hiroshima, Japan.

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2. Uncertain Certainty 

Installation/Exhibition at the opium den located in the basement of the historical Chinese Herb Shop in Truckee, CA

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This installation/exhibition was held at the actual historical site in order to expose the place and its hidden history to the audience. After railroad construction completed in Boca, CA, Chinese people live in Truckee, CA. According to Guy Coates, former research historian for the Truckee Donner Historical Society, "it appears to be the only survivor of Chinatown’s third major fire of suspicious origin, which broke out on June 17, 1886."

Certainty 1
Used Chair; 41" x 28" x 25"; 2020


Uncertainty 1 
Soot on paper; 41" x 30"; 2020


Winding
Soot on paper, glass jars, soil, metal, wood; 25" x 13" x 5.5"; 2022


39.392632, -120.18281
Soil sample from the site, glass jar, red candle, old opium bottle, found broken china pieces, used cabinet, speakers; 36" x 23.5" x 14"; 2022 (Sound is created by Reiko Yamada)


Footsteps
Soot on paper, glass jars, clay, wood; 92” x 36” x 5.5”; 2022

3. Resonance (Truckee River)

 

This installation is based on Asian histories in the Reno Area that have almost been forgotten. It uncovers the history and memory associated with Asian immigrants who were involved with railroad work and mining. 

Soil from 5 locations around Reno, NV, silver ores, old Chinese coins, found Chinese medicine bottle, found broken china pieces, found old nails, candle, resin, glass jars, motors, copper pipe, silk, speakers

2022

(Sound composed by Reiko Yamada)

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