This week in New York, NYCxDESIGN takes place with brands, galleries, and organizations across the city sharing presentations that highlight the best of today’s design. Among these shows and events, installed at the 3.1 Phillip Lim boutique on Great Jones Street, is the exhibition “Upon Further Reflection,” a multidisciplinary presentation showcasing the work of 20 female-identifying Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) designers.
Installation view, “Upon Further Reflection,” photo by Angela Hau.
On view through May 25, the show features a dynamic selection of furniture, installations, paintings, sculptures, and ceramic objects, as chosen by co-curators designer Lora Appleton, founder of the Female Design Council, and Andrea Hill, founder of Tortuga Forma. Presented in partnership with the Asian American Pacific Islander Design Alliance (AAPIDA), the discerning display invokes ideas of reflection surrounding the experiences of the AAPI community in the U.S. through never-before-seen works that form an intriguing landscape within the neutral oasis of stone and pillars at 3.1 Phillip Lim.
“It is an ongoing privilege to work with so many talented female-identified designers and to be able to shine a much-needed spotlight on the AAPI creative community,” said Appleton. “Allowing people of all ages to see themselves reflected in others inspired this exhibition, and enables me to help enlighten others on how broad and dynamic the global community of female-driven AAPI studios in design is.”
Curators Andrea Hill and Lora Appleton pictured with “Upon Further Reflection,” photo by Angela Hau.
While some designs in the show consider the thematic word “reflection” quite literally, others pose concepts that are left open to interpretation. Installed on walls, perched on pedestals, and placed on stone surfaces, “Upon Further Reflection” includes pieces like Soft Geometry’s Mirrors for Aliens trays, a sculpture by Rosie Li reminiscent of a formation of oil-slick bubbles, a delicate glass installation by Tina Scepanovic called Agree To Disagree, and a vanity by Moving Mountains that features raw wood and a squiggly mirror. Other designers featured include names like Jialun Xion, Pooja Pawaskar, Urvi Sharma, Susan Maddux, Ti Chang, Ellen Pong, Wu Hanyen, and Windy Chien.
“As an AAPI business owner who collaborates with talented designers as part of my business model, it made sense to turn to the diverse AAPI design community for inspiration,” said Hill. “Co-curating a show like this allowed me to rediscover myself within a larger community of creatives who share experiences around gender and ethnicity. The exhibition format also felt right for showcasing how each artist has interpreted the concept and materiality of reflection.”
Installation view, “Upon Further Reflection,” photo by Angela Hau.
Installation view, “Upon Further Reflection,” photo by Angela Hau.
Installation view, “Upon Further Reflection,” photo by Angela Hau.
