Bio

Anastasia Yip is a multidisciplinary artist in Oakland. She grew up in Hong Kong where she was heavily influenced by the “East meets West” culture. She seeks to challenge the status quo, where the voices of women and BIPOC are underrepresented. Her most recent exhibits include "Bandung to the Bay: Intersections of Solidarity" at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center and the 36th Annual Emeryville Art Exhibition.

Artist Statement

TEA WITH TANGERINES

Drinking tea has been a communal activity for millennia in Chinese culture. Serving and sharing tea is in many of our rituals and ceremonies. In weddings, new couples serve tea to their elders. In return, the elders impart wisdom and well wishes. We also serve tea to our ancestors at the altar as a sign of respect. In Lunar New Year celebrations, pairing tea with tangerines is common practice. Tangerine (柑) and gold (金) are pronounced the same way in Cantonese. I hope that sharing tea and tangerines with your loved ones will bring you wealth and abundance this year.

CHICKEN TO PHOENIX

The Chinese proverb ”山雞飛上枝頭變鳳凰'' means a mountain chicken can become a phoenix if it flies to the top of the branches. This painting alludes to the harsh reality faced by marginalized communities. The chickens represent those fighting for scraps of golden nuggets, while the majestic phoenixes stand atop the branches, representing the unattainable heights of wealth and privilege. It challenges the commonly held belief of the American "pull yourself up by the bootstraps" narrative, showing that success is often contingent upon systemic privilege. Going from rags to riches is as improbable today as the day Chinese immigrants came to San Francisco to pan for gold.

This painting is the sixth painting out of the Twelve Zodiacs project. This series explores the idea of “belonging” in two cultures. You’ll find Chinese Zodiac animals in Asian-American settings and American symbols within Chinese proverbs or landscape paintings.