Diseases have long been used to rationalize xenophobia. As the U.S. struggles to combat a global pandemic that has claimed more than 180,000 Americans, President Donald Trump, who has referred to COVID-19 as the Chinese virus and the kung flu, has helped normalize pandemic-fueled racism, and anti-Asian attacks.
In collaboration with TIME, photographer Haruka Sakaguchi documented the stories of ten New York-based Asian Americans, who share their experiences of racism during the pandemic, and how their perspectives have been shaped by recent Black Lives Matter protests. The resulting project combines first-person accounts with virtual portraits, laid atop photographs of the locations where they were harassed.
Artist Bios
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Haruka Sakaguchi
Haruka Sakaguchi is a Japanese documentary photographer based in Brooklyn. She was born in Osaka, Japan, and immigrated to the U.S. with her parents when she was three months old.
Haruka’s documentary work focuses on cultural identity and sense of place, and has been published by The New York Times, National Geographic, TIME, The New Yorker, Newsweek, PDN, The Washington Post, BuzzFeed, and more. Her project 1945 was on display at the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway, from November 2017 through November 2018.
Organizations
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TIME
TIME is a 100-year-old global media brand that reaches a combined audience of more than 105 million around the world through its iconic magazine and digital platforms. With unparalleled access to the world’s most influential people, the immeasurable trust of consumers and partners globally, and an unrivaled power to convene, TIME’s mission is to tell the essential stories of the people and ideas that shape and improve the world.
Asian Americans on Race and The Pandemic
Featuring: Haruka Sakaguchi
Curated by: Sangsuk Sylvia Kang
Locations
View Location Details Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 1Old Fulton and Furman St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
This location is part of Brooklyn Bridge Park
Explore other locations and exhibitions nearby
Location open 24 hours
EDUCATION DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
What emotions do you see in these portraits?
Why do you think these individuals shared their stories?
How do you think these images were made?
What are the limitations of a portrait?
Related Events
Asian Americans Reflect on Seeing Themselves, Race, and the Pandemic
New York-based Asian Americans who shared their experiences of pandemic-fueled racism with TIME gather for a virtual roundtable discussion on contextualizing anti-Asian racism during the coronavirus pandemic.
Learn More
