Antonius-Tín Bui is a Vietnamese American, non-binary, performance and visual artist whose means of expression in this exhibition is the craft of Chinese paper-cutting. This technique for making images dates back to a few centuries after paper was invented. and variations of it are practiced all over the world. But Bui's pieces are extraordinary in their size and intricacy. The main piece in the front room of Monique Meloche Gallery, called The Work of Love Becomes Its Own Reasons, is 52 inches high by 112 inches long. It is an outstanding example of Bui's technical expertise and virtuosity.
But that virtuosity is not what makes this show so captivating. It's Bui's exploration of the meaning behind the title of the exhibition, "There Are Many Ways to Hold Water Without Being Called a Vase," a line taken from the poet Franny Choi's poem Orientalism Part I. The show is divided into two rooms...
