Zimo Zhao

School of Art, Photo/Media, MFA 1

UNTITLED

Since it is generally believed that the COVID-19 virus originated in China, the pandemic has evolved into a political and racist virus through government instigation, this instigation has increased the crime rates of assault and discrimination against Asian and Asian American people.As a Chinese international student who has recently come to the United States, such events make me feel nervous, scared and helpless. I internalize this violence which can exist anywhere, trying to stand neutral, to feel empathy to each role I act and imagining I am subject to these dangers at any time.I recreate scenes of anti asian hate crime from the recently online news reports. Using my body to act in different roles of the event, I am simultaneously the victim, witness and investigator.I make hand-made miniature models, replacing the actual people with a cut out photo version of myself, which I then re-photograph.