this video is inspired by John Baldessari's "I am Making Art" (although the actual linkage between the two might be small). The first section talks about the Hong Kong Protests from 2019-ongoing and the second section talks about the US's current anti-Asian racism that's exacerbated by the coronavirus hit. Performing a catalogue of gestures in a spectrum of legibility, there are the meaningless/mundane moves that indicate being young/wearing black/wearing masks in Hong Kong, and being Asian-representing in the US are both "original sin". The more symbolic moves such as covering an eye/praying or kungfu/zombie are representing crucial events in protests or stand-ins of chinese-ness. The more direct gestures, such as self-defense moves, or waving/shaking hands, directly and sarcastically addresses the absurdity and the ridiculousness of such actions being rioting and spreading virus.

 

the locations of both sections also question the nature of rioting/protesting, how do we protest or riot during a time of social distancing? And facing some people in the US who are demanding the country to open up at the expense of essential workers and at-risk groups, is the act of being present in public space, with a mask, already a responsible act of resistance? How does one spread virus when we're all self-isolating at home?