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Miya Hannan 
South Bend Museum of Art Application

Portfolio

1-5. From "Crossing the Ocean" project

“Crossing the Ocean” is a continuing project that is inspired by Japanese immigrants who crossed the Pacific Ocean in the late nineteenth century to work for a railway company in the Intermountain Region to send their paychecks back home to support their families. Unlike Asian histories of the West Coast, those in the Intermountain region are not well recorded and are almost forgotten in many areas. 

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6. Uncertain Certainty 

Exhibition/installation at the opium den located within the historical Chinese Herb Shop in Truckee, CA, 2022

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 with the help of Reiko Yamada)


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

This exhibition/installation was held at the actual historical site in order to expose the place and its history to the audience. This place was hidden in the basement of a business. After railroad construction was completed in Boca, CA, Chinese people lived 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." 

7. Resonance (Truckee River)

 

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 created with the help of Reiko Yamada)

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. I gathered soil, objects, and stories from places where these histories are associated to use for this installation. Each column in the installation represents a historical site around Reno. The numbers on the columns are coordinates where I collected soil. The hidden jar contains soil and objects that suggest the history of the location. The 1st column contains silver ore and old Chinese coins; the 2nd one, a broken piece of a Chinese medicine bottle; the 3rd, old nails; the 4th, old China pieces and a red candle; the 5th, a finger bone. The copper pipe by the ceiling and the white fabric from it are in the shape of the Truckee River, and the columns are placed corresponding to actual geographical locations in relation to the river.

8. Footsteps

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

9-16. from "Uncertain Certainty" series

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17-20. "Beneath the Feet" series 

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