The Kingdom of Surfaces

"The Kingdom of Surfaces" by Sally Wen Mao is a poetic exploration of art, history, and cultural identity, examining themes of beauty, empire, and violence through vivid sequences and lyric poems. It addresses issues such as gender, the commodification of Chinese aesthetics, and the ongoing violence against Asian communities, using imaginative reimaginings like a surreal version of the 2015 Metropolitan Museum of Art Gala. The collection calls for a critical reflection on American exceptionalism and the power structures that shape society.