What People Are Saying
Attendee input and comments
“MISA Floral, the artist, and creatives involved with EXOTIC GOODS at Shopkeepers put together a display of art not commonly seen in the Washington, D.C. area. The theme revolved around Asian beauty and its place in American relationships; often referred to as an “exotic” matchup, whether it’s romantic or platonic. There were photographs on display throughout the exhibit; each referring to the central theme with its own flavor of creativity. In addition to the photos there were displays of floristry using exotic flowers; which reflected the theme of the exhibit.
The central exhibit and the focus of the photographers, including myself, in attendance was the display demonstrated by Jamie Garcia. She was a figurative exotic flower, placed literally in a flower pot with soil and all. The onlookers could even water her or the pot she was in. While creative in itself, the added layer of creativity was in Jamie’s performance as the exotic flower. Often, Jamie would fold inward like a (Mimosa pudica), symbolizing growth or the good, thriving times in the life of an exotic flower. Either way, this flower was constantly immobile while in the pot of soil, reminding us that she’s still “trapped” in a sense.
It was certainly artful. The main exhibit of the exotic flower could’ve been interpreted a million ways by a million people. Some, men in particular, could’ve looked at her and thought how cute she is and how sexually charged the display was. Deep thinkers could’ve focused on the “trapped” aspect of a flower immobile in the pot. Even deeper thinkers could’ve thought about how every Asian girl or woman in the Western world could never shake the “trapped” way of thinking that they’re all exotic and sought after for being just that.
I don’t think of it as controversial, necessarily, I think it does make the deep thinkers aware of the subtle attraction of Westerners to Asian women. It’s dichotomy of two worlds, which cement the “exotic” perspective, yet in the end…it’s not where you’re from but where you’re at. Home is where you hang your hat. In this day and age of technology and mixed communities, it shouldn’t matter. But somewhere deep within our psyche, it still does and it’s impossible to ignore.
The EXOTIC GOODS event was a terrific way to artfully convey the message without words, and yet leave it open to interpretation.
As a photographer, I sought to capture various subtle moments and angles of the main exhibit and other displays to isolate a certain perspective. I’ll be posting more photos of this event on my Instagram page instagram.com/jff757. “
— John Ferrer
“Bruce, your photos are the bomb dot com.”
— Carla
“Thank you for the reminder. I’m fragile, I’m beautiful, I’m a flower <3”
“Thank you for everyone’s hard work and dedication to open the public’s mind to a new side of art. Breathtaking shots and arrangements.”
-XOXO Colleen
“I appreciated that the audience could interact with the performer, opening up many interpretations and meaning to the art.”
“I absolutely loved this event. I want more of these.”
-John F.
“To bring both live and still art brought new perspective. I really hope you do something like this again, thank you for raising awareness.”
“Very overwhelmed by the potted performance. I do think that’s a good thing. It shocked my ego. Thank you.”
“I expected nothing less than excellent.”
— RAW
“I love the light being shed on your personal experience being objectified. Do you think people confuse the two? admiration and objectification? It’s definitely an American thing. Is it instilled in Americans to objectify?”
“The way you interact with the live plant — is it the same way you interact with people that “plant” represented?”
“Beautifully Done! Wow! My favorite was the film. I was intrigued the entire time!”
“Art should make you uncomfortable, in order to grow as a person.”
“Very interesting exhibit!! My favorite piece is “The Office.” I love the blue top she has on, almost as if she is trying to be more masculine. Great shot!”
“Beautiful work guys!”
-Liah, Sam, Cristina
“THOUGHT PROVOKING, RAW AND SENSUAL..EXOTIC GOODS provided a wonderful perception of female beauty from a difficult lens. The presentation from piece to piece really showcased how beautifully imperfect a woman can be. That being said, the collection did a great job showing perfection in imperfection. Wonderful job!”
EXOTIC GOODS is terrifying…I think it embodies what my family and culture have been enduring for years in one photo.
“My favorite piece was the first one I saw on my counter clockwise path around the exhibit, where a woman is packaged in a box like an item purchased online, perhaps from a foreign land. This piece really resonated with me because it got to the root of why I felt compelled to see the exhibit; people generally don’t think the fetishization of Asian women is a bad thing — but indeed it is, because it renders us monolithic, vacant objects. In the piece, I felt like I was part of a broader community of women who have thought to themselves, “They don’t care about what’s in my head or the things I’ve done. I’m just a desirable object to them, to be used in the service of their pleasure and fantasies.”
In terms of the exhibit as a whole, I loved the creative use of diverse mediums: fresh flowers, video, dirt, a flag, digital editing. I’m not much of a technical or formal art person, but I was able to contemplate EXOTIC GOODS in a way that I usually don’t with that type of art that is displayed in studios or these types of spaces.
Every so often I think something I learned from an early episode from “Master of None” where Aziz is on a first date with a black woman he met on Tinder. They connect over the fact that Asian men and black women fare worst on online dating sites. At first I felt sad, hearing about this hierarchy. Upon further reflection, I reminded myself that I am not a beneficiary of this system at the expense of “less desirable” groups. It is in this same caste ranking that all of us with less privilege are ordered for the benefit and convenience of the more privileged.”
— Anne Le
