“The ABCs of AAPIs” Atlanta Beltline Exhibit
Client: Asian American Advocacy Fund | Year: 2022
As part of The ABCs of AAPIs, a coloring book project funded by Asian American Advocacy Fund, I collaborated with Kavi Vu and Arah Kang to help design an art exhibit on the Atlanta Beltline during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Additionally, I participated as one of the 17 local Asian American illustrators who contributed to the project.
The project culminated in a launch party at the Beltline, which brought over 400 attendees, and the exhibit was displayed throughout May and extended until the end of July.
Exhibit Banner Design
Each letter in the coloring book was featured in a spread with a square illustration on one page and an accompanying poem and quote on the other. My task was to translate the 8x8” pages into eight 18’ wide vinyl panels that would be displayed on the fence alongside the Beltline’s Eastside trail.
As part of my research, I visited the Beltline to measure the height of the fence (about 50” or a little more than four feet) and determine the most optimal placement for the exhibit in terms of visibility and foot traffic.
An early mockup (above) incorporated the title into a panel with the first three illustrations. However, I wanted the title to stand on its own and create more of an impact. The final version featured the title on its own 18-foot wide panel, capturing passersby’s attention and allowing the details in the illustrations to shine.
Illustrations
As one of the illustrators selected for the project, I chose to draw writers Jhumpa Lahiri and Ocean Vuong, two of my favorite authors. For Jhumpa Lahiri, I studied the covers of her books and incorporated elements of each one into the background. (The flower is from The Namesake and The Lowland; the mehndi from Interpreter of Maladies; the blue waves from Unaccustomed Earth; the wavy yellow lines from Whereabouts.)
Ocean Vuong’s more simplified background of autumnal leaves is a reference to the international cover of On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous.
The drawings were illustrated by hand, scanned, and edited digitally.
Poster
As a gift to the artists and writers who worked on the project, I designed a commemorative poster featuring each illustration from The ABCs of AAPIs.
Creative Direction & Project Management: Kavi Vu, Arah Kang
Artists: Andrew Blooms, Christina Kwan, Crystal Jin Kim, Dianna Settles, Edward Sun, Hufsa Zia, Jonny Warren, Joy Zhang, Killamari, Kim Nguyen, Leah Abucayan, Mariah Zia, Minh Huynh, Nicole Kang Ahn, Pui Tam, Sanithna Phansavanh, Tammy Huynh
Writers: Gina Yu, Jessie Lian, Mila Konomos
What I Did
Exhibit Banner Design
Posterboards
Coloring Sheets
Poster
(2) Exhibit Illustrations