A photo of my ancestors hanging above my great aunt’s bed in Fuping, China, my grandmother’s hometown.
My parents’ vase, which my grandparents have kept after we immigrated in 2001. My grandmother tells me it helps them feel closer to us.
Lianhu park, where I frequented as a child.
My baby blanket, hanging to dry in my grandparents’ yard.
Portrait of nai nai
Nai nai’s scissors. My grandmother, who suffered a stroke paralyzing half of her body, likes to cut up the toilet paper to keep her hand busy.
The backyard, where I played and chased stray cats.
Ye ye’s shirt, hanging outside to dry.
Ye ye taking a nap.
Me and my cousin, Lu Xiao. Back then in China, your cousins were like your siblings, and Lu Xiao was my sister, whom I looked up to immensely. She liked art so I liked art. Today, Lu Xiao is an artist still living in Xi’an. We’ve led parallel lives from across the ocean.
The drumtower, a popular tourist attraction in Xi’an, under construction. My grandfather and I would walk here many times in my childhood.
Ye ye was a busy body and liked to be up and doing things. He had many plants that he tended to.
The ground by my parents’ old apartment in Xi’an. When I returned it was unrecognizable, transformed into a shopping center. I don’t remember much of it anyway.
A spice pouch that my grandfather used to carry around, meant to keep one smelling fresh.
The overgrown exterior of my grandparents’ home.
A mosque near my grandparents’ home, which is located in a majority Hui community. I still remember the prayers playing over the loudspeaker very early in the morning and throughout the day.
My first room, my first home.
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
A photo of my ancestors hanging above my great aunt’s bed in Fuping, China, my grandmother’s hometown.
My parents’ vase, which my grandparents have kept after we immigrated in 2001. My grandmother tells me it helps them feel closer to us.
Lianhu park, where I frequented as a child.
My baby blanket, hanging to dry in my grandparents’ yard.
Portrait of nai nai
Nai nai’s scissors. My grandmother, who suffered a stroke paralyzing half of her body, likes to cut up the toilet paper to keep her hand busy.
The backyard, where I played and chased stray cats.
Ye ye’s shirt, hanging outside to dry.
Ye ye taking a nap.
Me and my cousin, Lu Xiao. Back then in China, your cousins were like your siblings, and Lu Xiao was my sister, whom I looked up to immensely. She liked art so I liked art. Today, Lu Xiao is an artist still living in Xi’an. We’ve led parallel lives from across the ocean.
The drumtower, a popular tourist attraction in Xi’an, under construction. My grandfather and I would walk here many times in my childhood.
Ye ye was a busy body and liked to be up and doing things. He had many plants that he tended to.
The ground by my parents’ old apartment in Xi’an. When I returned it was unrecognizable, transformed into a shopping center. I don’t remember much of it anyway.
A spice pouch that my grandfather used to carry around, meant to keep one smelling fresh.
The overgrown exterior of my grandparents’ home.
A mosque near my grandparents’ home, which is located in a majority Hui community. I still remember the prayers playing over the loudspeaker very early in the morning and throughout the day.
My first room, my first home.
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
Lucy Lu: 大皮院 (Da Pi Yuan) (installation view), 2019 © Larissa Issler, Ryerson Image Centre
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid
[De]/[Re] Constructing Place, Installation view
Varley Art Gallery of Markham, 2021.
Photo: Toni Hafkenscheid